UNISON’s legal team has won the inaugural Solicitors Journal award for employment team of the year, against stiff competition from private sector law firms.
The awards panel was impressed by the team’s excellent ongoing casework. They singled out UNISON v the Lord Chancellor case, describing it as a “ground-breaking” judicial review challenge to the introduction of employment tribunal fees.
Another high-profile case mentioned by the panel was Lock v British Gas. This was about whether regular commission payments should be included when calculating paid annual leave. UNISON’s legal team took this to the European Court of Justice, and then successfully defended it in an employment appeal tribunal.
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “I’m delighted that the work of our legal team has been recognised with this award.
“Every day they are countering injustice in the workplace and challenging unfair laws introduced by government. This shows why everyone at work should belong to a union.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON press release on the Lock v British Gas case is available here
– UNISON report on using Lock v British Gas in South Central Ambulance case is here
– Supreme court decision to allow UNISON to continue its legal challenge is reported here
– The full shortlist for the Solicitors Journal awards is availablehere.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
