More than 360 workers in the region lost their jobs when the maintenance specialist first went into administration last month.
Then it seemed they would be the only casualties from the Kinetics Group’s 1,000-plus nationwide workforce as the rest of the business was rescued in a pre-pack deal with administrators.
But this week the salvaged part of Kinetics collapsed putting the remaining 600 out of work while much of the North West workforce has been saved.
Talks led by construction union Ucatt with Kinetics’ biggest client in the north west, Liverpool Mutual Homes, have ended in a deal, which will see 200 workers transferred to the housing association.
Liverpool Mutual has agreed to honour back pay from 9 June, continuity of service and preserve existing terms and conditions.
In another deal, Preston based contractor Forrest has also agreed to TUPE over 60 plus workers in the city.
Jimmy Woods, acting regional secretary of Ucatt North West, said: “This is yet another example of the inherent problems with the private sector running public services.
“Private companies can go bust and communities can be left without essential services.
“The decision to take work back in-house and the preservation of the majority of the jobs is totally the right decision and has averted a crisis for thousands of social housing tenants.”
