Macmillan, already given the moniker "Ryanair of Publishing" for its New Writing venture, is getting further and more serious flak. It's coming from Amicus, the UK's largest private sector union, which is launching a legal battle in support of its members working at the publishing company, according to a statement. Employees in the Swansea (Pontardulais) warehouse, which employs 107 people, joined Amicus to gain the same trade union recognition rights which are enjoyed by Macmillan employees at other sites in London, Oxford and Basingstoke.

Union recognition law states that if more than 50% of a workforce joins a union the company, must recognize their union for collective bargaining - the right to negotiate pay and conditions. "It is very disappointing that Macmillan Publishers seem to want to disadvantage our members in Swansea by attempting to deny them their right to trade union recognition," said Tony Burke, Assistant General Secretary of Amicus. "It is especially confusing and frustrating to our members as other sites around the country already have union recognition and have done for many years now. Amicus representatives across Macmillan's have been watching this situation very closely. They have become increasingly concerned at the company's apparent disregard for their employees rights."

Such disregard has been ongoing for many months now, stemming from a complaint filed last February by the union on behalf of Macmillan's Swansea-based employees. And add me to the list of people who'll be watching this case very closely, if only to see if the publishing house will provide more company information as Amicus requests...