More than 100 workers at a Manchester steel fabrication company with roots in the Second World War have been laid off, with staff told they would receive no working hours through December and into January, according to the union.
Thomas Storey Fabrications Group, based in Openshaw, is known for producing Bailey bridges for Allied forces during World War Two. Workers were informed they would not be allocated shifts, leaving many facing an uncertain future after what the union says has been a prolonged lack of communication from the company.
The GMB union said affected employees have received no clear updates on the firm’s situation, despite many having spent decades with the business. The company has faced financial difficulties in recent years, though it was rescued from administration around six months ago following its acquisition by the TAL Group, which at the time stated it was committed to supporting and developing UK engineering firms.
Gary Edwards, GMB Regional Organiser, criticised the handling of the situation, saying: “The treatment of this loyal workforce is awful.” He added: “Some people have 20 years service – and to be stonewalled by the company for information while being laid off unpaid is unacceptable.”
Edwards called for urgent clarity from management, stating: “There must be communication and a resolution to this situation quickly.”
The union is now urging the company to engage directly with workers to explain its plans and provide certainty on future employment at the historic Manchester site.
The company might be stonewalling because they have no idea what to do. Not good but in the current climate understandable.
I think we all assumed that once Rachel had done her Hokey Cokey Budget things would start to improve.
No sign if that coming to pass.
The only people doing well ATM are liquidators….
I’ve come not to expect anything from Reeves SB. I live in a rural area where farming, hospitality and tourism sectors are vital to all and she and her cronies are doing their damndest to destroy all of them.
I’m in large scale construction and I was having lunch with another company director who floated the idea that Rayner was hell bent on trying to nationalise house building.
Whilst I appreciate she is as stupid as she looks it is hard to discern any other reason for her loopy policies that put the brakes on house building.
Confidence is a fragile thing….touch it and it is gone….
I find it difficult to believe that the whole Labour party is full of incompetents. There isn’t one of them who has a clue. Makes the Tories look good !!! My conclusion is that they are doing it deliberately to destroy the UK as we know it.
Hopefully these guys get a government bailout, the UK can’t afford to have 100 people made redundant. Especially if they work with a metal alloy the UK produces very little from.
It’s especially essential that we keep a company open that has a 1.8 star rating from its own employees and was bought out by a private equity company in August 2025.
This is exactly the kind of business Britain needs to power us into the future.
A 100 is irrelevant to this crowd Jim. Since Reeves, unemployment has gone up by 28 per cent and vacancies down by 15 per cent. God knows where we’re off to next. All sorts of legislation hitting business in the next few weeks.
Honestly, I hope dearly that they all find work, 100+ Steel staff, hopefully there’s going to be some other steel working companies take them on. And with all the steel the Defence industry is needing in just the next 5 years, to let any of these workers go is a real pity.
No concerns from HMG, working class Northerners losing their skilled jobs and no future expectations, sorry they don’t count as they mostly no longer vote Liebour. Working class English grafters, hard physical labour, sweat, pride in their skills and a pint at the end of the day….they don’t count, no pro-nouns so no future!!!!!!
Anyone would think they were deliberately trying to lose Gorton and Denton? lol
It will be interesting to see the deals and conniving the left wing parties will do on a desperate attempt at keeping Reform out? It’s legal and above board but doesn’t seem to be a “decent” way of playing politics. Interesting to also see how the postal vote numbers add up, as it has been researched that there are a number of buildings where no one lives but many postal voters are registered!
Reds only ever play by their own rules, but hey if they can hold on to enough votes from Rape Gang apologists and Synagogue attackers then they might crawl past the post in 1st place
Another UK manufacturer goes under. President Xi will be pleased. Special Agents Starmer and Milliband will receive many social credits. They have done well.
This stupid Government has decided to buy over 50 million of steel for green projects from China, how can you have a net zero policy and then buy steel from China, most of their energy is produced from 1195 coal power stations with more being built. Reinforcing steel bar in road construction a few miles from Port Talbot steelworks was from Portugal. As not in the EU any more we should be supporting British steel workers. Reeves clueless budgets are closing more businesses daily as business rates and tax makes them unviable.
All true. That aside another point is the Health and Safety record of coal and steel industries in various countries we are doing trade deals with. Seventy people die in a mining accident and it’s covered up. The same with steel. They are both dangerous industries. We have outsourced our pollution and industrial deaths. Then put them on steroids. We buy cheap from these countries on the backs of poor human rights and the deaths of low paid workers.
Now now people calm down! Our dear leader has assured us that 2026 is the year we will all be and feel better off! It’s got be true then hasn’t it?🤔
Actually on 19th December 2025 TAL Group Advanced Engineering Ltd., applied to Companies House to be struck off the register. The entire company, its holdings, and subsidiaries are bankrupt. Poooof, Gone! Just a matter of sweeping up the bits now.