Workers were on strike for nine weeks

A brass band led the marchers through the town in the event, which was organised by the Transport and General Workers Union.

Some of the sacked made speeches indicating there would be similar rallies in future.

During a planned nine-week strike over plans to cut wages by 15% and change working practices, the workers were locked out of their plant.

An earlier meeting between management and staff had failed to settle the dispute. Local AM Dafydd Wigley said the workers had been treated "appalingly."

Employment law

They became the first people to be fired under new employment law.

Under the 1999 Employment Relations Act meant strikers cannot be sacked for eight weeks, but union officials in Caernarfon said the act afforded "no protection."

Trade union bosses from the T&G and ACAS attacked the company's actions strongly.

Event organiser Tom Jones of the Transport and General Workers Union said the whole matter is in the hands of lawyers and that legal action again could be taken against Mr Smith.

Asked whether the strike had been worth it, sacked worker Gerald Parry said a stand had to be made against what he alleged was a company owner which was treating workers in a way Victorian bosses used to do.