Managers at the crisis-torn Morrells brewery have been blasted by a union chief over redundancy pay.

The Transport and General Workers Union says it has been flooded by applications from brewery workers since the firm announced plans to sell three weeks ago.

Now officials say the union is determined to intervene on behalf of staff, who look like receiving minimum statutory payments.

Unions were de-recognised at the Oxford brewery nine years ago. Membership of the T&G has dwindled to just a handful.

But regional organiser Keith Richardson has written to Morrells' commercial director Robin Hatcher demanding a meeting to discuss workers' concerns.

Mr Richardson said: "We are getting many calls from workers wanting to rejoin. We are hearing from people with 40 years' loyal service faced with walking out with the statutory minimum of £7,000.

"It is appalling when you constantly read about people in senior positions leaving companies with £500,000 pay-offs. Where is the balance in that?"

He said the union also wanted to ensure workers' entitlements remained if the company was sold as a going concern.

Many of the 77 staff at the St Thomas' Street brewery have expressed anger at news that members of the Morrell family stand to share £35m from the sale of the brewery and its 132 pubs.

Mr Hatcher, who is on holiday, was unavailable for comment.

But chief executive Ken Hodgson is on record as saying: "We will be asking prospective purchasers what their plans are for employees and, if job losses are necessary, a full redundancy package will be offered."

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