Former workers at a Tyneside electronics factory have written to American President, George W Bush, asking him to help them obtain compensation.

The workers lost their jobs in September 2001 when company Viasystems Tyneside Limited went into receivership with the loss of 875 jobs.

The GMB union says the company, a subsidiary of US-based Viasystems Group Inc, has not honoured contracts entitling 100 workers to redundancy cash of up to £50,000.

They have called on George Bush to support them and back his recent speeches about American corporate responsibility.

'Misery'

In a letter sent to the White House, the union has asked him to force the parent company to pay the money to the former workers.

A union spokesman said: "The workers have been forced into misery and poverty by the actions of their employers."

In October 2001, protestors marched through South Shields demanding greater redundancy protection.

Viasystems, which made circuit boards, closed both its plants in North and South Tyneside.

But more than 750 jobs were saved when managers at the South Shields factory put forward a successful buyout.

However, in May management at the plant, now known as Circatex, were forced to lay off 100 staff.

They blamed a downturn in sales for forcing the redundancies.