Jubilant scenes last November when staff won their appeal

The owner of a north Wales factory where staff have been on the picket line for two years has been told he can appeal against a ruling that they were unfairly dismissed.

Craig Smith has been given the right to a full appeal hearing involving 86 of his former workers at Friction Dynamics in Caernarfon.

A judge at an employment appeal tribunal in London made the decision after a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

It means that the picket line which has been mounted outside the plant will continue.

Legal evidence

The employees,at the car brake lining factory went on strike in April 2001 over pay and conditions. They were sacked eight weeks later and have kept up a non-stop picket since.

It means that we'll carry on for a few months longer than we expected Union official Gwilym Williams

An order will now be sent to John Davies, the striker who won the test case, who will then have to respond by sending legal evidence to the court within 14 days.

Gwilym Williams says staff were not surprised by the decision

A full hearing will then follow.

Gwilym Williams, a former worker and union representative, said the appeal decision did not come as a surprise.

"That doesn't mean we are not disappointed about it all," he said. "It means that we'll carry on for a few months longer than we expected."

The strikers were delighted last November when they won their case for unfair dismissal.

The workers have been backed by Jack Dromey, who is hoping to succeed Bill Morris as general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Mr Dromey, who has been nominated for the union's top job by the sacked workers at Friction Dynamics, said he would promote legislation ending what he called the scandal of how easily British workers could be sacked.

"It is a privilege to be backed by brave members and my task will be to build on their legacy, winning a change in the law that outlaws the sacking of striking workers," said Mr Dromey.