黑洞社区

Two of the most prominent former staff at troubled architect RMJM are suing the company for unfair dismissal and unpaid wages.

The firm鈥檚 former star designer in Edinburgh, Tony Kettle, and his right hand man Colin Bone, are pursuing claims at Edinburgh Employment Tribunal against RMJM Scotland Ltd, it emerged this week.

Kettle, formerly RMJM鈥檚 international design principal, and Bone, the ex-managing principal of the firm鈥檚 European studio, both left the architect
in April. This followed a string of other departures since the beginning of the year and previous failures to pay staff on time.

A spokesman for the tribunal told 黑洞社区 on Tuesday that the two had earlier lodged a further 鈥渨histleblowing鈥� claim against RMJM but said this had now been withdrawn.

The parties met last Friday at the tribunal as part of a 鈥渃ase management discussion鈥� about the legal claims.

Kettle, who joined RMJM in 1989, is well known for projects including the award-winning Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift which opened a decade ago, and the Gazprom Tower in St Petersburg, the firm鈥檚 tallest proposed building.

Bone is understood to have been with the firm since 2007.

It also emerged this week that RMJM Group Ltd is pursuing legal action against two other former senior staff - Paul Stallan and Alistair Brand - in Scotland鈥檚 supreme civil court, the Court of Session, also based in Edinburgh.

The firm is being represented by solicitor Gillespie Macandrew but it is not known what the basis for the action is.

Close colleagues Brand and Stallan both worked at RMJM鈥檚 Glasgow office. Stallan, who ran his own 鈥淧aul Stallan at RMJM Studio鈥� division quit in January, two days after the firm sacked Brand, the firm鈥檚 managing principal for Scotland.

Stallan, who joined RMJM in 1995, won the Royal Scottish Academy Gold Medal for Architecture, as well as RIBA and Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland design awards for RMJM buildings.

RMJM, Kettle, Bone and Stallan were all unavailable for comment. Brand was uncontactable.