Tribunal fees weaken workers' rights

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Independent arbitration service ACAS is "absolutely right" to express concerns over the introduction of employment tribunal fees, says CWU head of legal services Tony Rupa.

The comments came as an estimated three million workers faced being removed altogether from employment protection in April under new laws extending the qualification period for a tribunal from one to two years of employment.

And for those who stay in the same job long enough to secure legal protection, access to that protection will be restricted through the introduction of pre-trial fees for those taking cases to industrial tribunals. Complainants will be required to pay between £150 and £250 to file a claim and then a further £1,000 should this proceed to a hearing, while higher fees can apply when higher compensation awards are being sought.

With some 30 per cent of complainants on annual salaries of £15,000 or less, and around 70 per cent earning below the UK average - according to research by the TUC - concerns are high that these measures will impact disproportionately on vulnerable workers most in need of legal protection.

Independent arbitration service ACAS has warned that these measures could encourage company chiefs to adopt a more stubborn stance. "If a person has to make a payment for a claim, employers won't be that interested in early mediation," explained chief operating officer Andrew Wareing.

"This could result in it being more difficult to push a settlement (early on). It will be harder to help," Mr Wareing added.

CWU head of legal services, Tony Rupa said that Mr Wareing was "absolutely right to voice these concerns" and went on to accuse the Government of launching a "two-pronged attack" on workers' rights. "This involves first diluting those rights and then making it more difficult to go to tribunal in order to attain justice," he said.

Both government and employers have argued that reducing workers' rights in this way will help increase employment, but Tony disagreed, pointing out: "There is only one thing that creates more jobs and that is an order book.

"Weakening employment rights does not create an order book. It just makes it easier for unscrupulous employers to abuse workers and drive down terms and conditions.

"And the only sure way for workers to defend their rights at work is to join a union," Tony concluded.

[General Mannerheim]

"And the only sure way for workers to defend their rights at work is to join a union," Tony concluded

Who then send up Laurel and Hardy to deal with your tribunal case.

[andy2007]

Won't claimants be able to claim the costs back?
If so, (and assuming they manage to get this travesty through the Commons) why aren't the Unions announcing that if it happens, they'll pay those fees for their members, who in turn have to repay the fees to the Union IF they're successful. That way, there wouldn't be any barrier for the victims.