Rowleys goes head-to-head with A&O over Turner & Newall pension conflict

Trade union specialists Rowley Ashworth is facing up to Allen & Overy (A&O) in continued negotiations over Turner & Newall pensions.

Rowleys has been instructed by Amicus, the technical and skilled workers’ union, in the recent UK and US-based talks. A&O’s employment, pensions and incentives head Derek Sloan, with partners Gordon Stewart and Susan Hazledine, are advising independent trustees, including Alexander Forbes.

The Transport & General Workers’ Union and the GMB are also involved in the negotiations, aimed at saving the pension schemes of more than 40,000 former and current Turner & Newall employees.

Turner & Newall’s US parent Federal-Mogul is in Chapter 11 administration following a number of asbestos claims brought against it. The unions are concerned that winding up the company’s pension scheme would jeopardise 4,000 UK jobs, as well as affecting pensioners. The scheme has a £300m shortfall and was frozen by the administrators in July.

Amicus spokesman Brian Gallagher said the union had engaged Rowleys assistant Alison Humphry to examine the legal aspects of the scheme, including examining contracts and pensions booklets.