Redundancy Consultation Meeting Advice

[Mr Snrub]

By 31st July the company I work for is ceasing all UK operations so everyone is being made redundant with no option of a transfer or alternative employment. The whole process has been nothing short of a shambles, and I have only just had it confirmed that my first consultation is on Monday where they will table their offer. I've been with the company just over 5 years, the first of which was as a temp. I know what to expect in regards to statutory redundancy and my notice period, but am also aware that anyone who was there on or before 2010 is getting 2 1/2 weeks pay for every year whereas I only get one. To make things more complicated there were two main contracts that have been taken by two different companies, so everyone who worked for them will get an offer from the company taking their contract, whereas since my job role entailed dealing with both, my offer will come from the company I work for. So there is the distinct possibility that people on the same pay and roles will get offered different amounts. The consultations for the other two haven't even started yet, so those who work for them will effectively get another month's pay since you can't be let go until the process is complete.

I've never been made redundant before so am unsure how to approach this meeting. Since they can't offer me less than the legal minimum and I'll be gone in two weeks no matter what, I don't exactly have much to lose by pushing for an enhanced payout. So my main question is how should I go about it? I'm not in a union but will take a staff rep with me and not sign until the second meeting. Should I go the nice approach, thanking them for employing me but saying I feel I should get the same as other people there, play the sympathy card that I have to run a house since handed and may take time to find a new job, or (which I have to admit I'd love to do) tell them they way I've been treated is a disgrace, causing no end of stress, and I should be given more?

Thanks in advance.

[Mr Snrub]

Thanks for the replies - had the meeting today and as expected they gave bare minimum to everyone, even those who'd been there nearly 20 years. Union are coming down Thursday since apparently there have been some irregularities with the process but I'm not holding out much hope.The truth is, as some have pointed out, we are just disposable numbers on a sheet.