UNISON Legal Services has been named Employment Law Team of the Year at the prestigious Lawyer Awards.
The annual award, adjudicated by an independent panel, recognised the union’s ongoing campaign to challenge the Government’s decision to introduce a fees regime in the employment tribunals and employment appeal tribunals.
UNISON’s success is a clear sign of the value that the legal community places on the union’s challenge to the Government’s imposition of Tribunal fees. Claimant and Respondent lawyers have been united in their opposition to these grossly unjust fees that have resulted in a staggering 81% drop in the number of claims being brought to tribunals.
UNISON Head of Legal, Adam Creme, said:
“UNISON is delighted to receive this award as we continue to champion the rights of our members. Along with our fight to the Court of Appeal over tribunal fees, we are happy to celebrate the huge equal pay victory for members in Scotland.”
UNISON Legal Officer, Shantha David, said:
“We are pleased to receive this independent endorsement of the work we continue to do to reverse the introduction of these grossly unfair and unjust fees. The general frustration and consensus felt by lawyers and our members over the introduction of fees is striking and unprecedented.”
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Notes to Editors
Although UNISON’s claim was unsuccessful at the High Court, the decision highlighted a number of issues in relation to the implementation and effect of fees. The High Court made clear it expects the Government to keep this issue under review and to revoke or amend the scheme if UNISON’s arguments are borne out. The decision is being appealed at the Court of Appeal later this year.
Pressure from UNISON during the hearing brought a significant concession from Lord Chancellor, so that successful claimants will now generally have their Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal fees reimbursed by the respondent.
The Ministry of Justice’s latest statistics show that the overall number of Employment Tribunal claims in the last quarter (January to March 2014) are 81% fewer than in the same period in 2013. UNISON is warning that the overall number of individual claims has fallen massively since the introduction of fees. The statistics also continue to be skewed by the number of large group claims still being lodged by trade unions pursuing grievances on behalf of groups of members.