An $8 million USD complaint has been lodged against South Tyneside-based circuit board manufacturer Viasystems by former workers. More than 800 employees lost their jobs in South Shields, Longbenton and North Tyneside and, of that number, 685 employees have filed claims of unfair termination. Approximately 200 of these claims are expected to be heard during tribunals in Newcastle in the next two weeks.

Employees claim a total of $8 million is owed to them, but many fear they will only receive a small fraction of what they believe they are owed.

Tom Brennan, regional secretary of the GMB, the union representing most of the workers fighting for justice, said: "The workers at Viasystems have been treated abominably--there's no question of that." Brennan feels "too many companies are acting like this, and leaving former workers with very little. There should be some kind of Government-backed contingency plan to prevent this happening again and again."