Major developments in the SSG Bookshops story
After a relatively quiet few months, May saw a number of major devlopments unfold in the SSG Bookshop saga in a very short space of time. It now seems as if this long-running story may be moving to a conclusion.
The three key developments in May were:
a) the decision by the Charity Commission to appoint an interim manager to manage SSG, thereby obtaining control of the assets
b) the proposed settlement from the newly appointed solicitors (by the Commission) to Usdaw who are representing more than thirty former SSG staff at Employment Tribunal hearings
c) the decision of the Chapter of Durham Cathedral giving the charity notice to quit its premises at the cathedral by end April 2010.
The tribunal hearings were due to take place on Monday 11th May but Usdaw agreed to a postponement once it became clear that the involvement of the Charity Commission was likely to lead to progress on individual settlements being made. Christine Peacock from Usdaw told ‘Christian Marketplace’; “The new solicitors have been negotiating very seriously with us and we felt there was a reasonable settlement proposal on the table. This meant it was more sensible to agree to the postponement while Usdaw consulted with its members and we tried to finalise the details of the proposed settlement.”
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