The TUC has supplied this information:
The TUC has warned that a system of tribunal fees due to come into effect in July will 'embolden' rogue employers while leaving workers more vulnerable to safety and other abuses. The union body added that the fees will price many of the UK's lowest paid workers out of justice. It believes they have been set 'disproportionately high' in order to deter many people from taking valid claims to tribunal. Anyone who believes they 'suffer a detriment, dismissal or redundancy for health and safety reasons' may be required to pay an initial fee of £250 and a further £950 if the case goes to a tribunal, the maximum 'level 2' charges under the new system. A safety rep complaining of an employer 'failure to pay for or allow time off to carry out safety rep duties or undertake training' - denial of the legal right to safety rep training makes up the lion's share of safety-related tribunal cases - will have to stump up £160 to kick off a case and a further £250 to take it to tribunal. The same 'level 1' charges apply to workers complaining about an employer's 'failure to pay remuneration whilst suspended from work for health and safety reasons whilst pregnant or on maternity leave.' TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'Introducing tribunal fees will serve only to embolden rogue employers, who will be able to mistreat staff without fear of sanction. Regardless of what ministers say this is not about cutting red tape for businesses. It is yet another attack on workers' employment rights and will result in victims being deterred from making genuine claims.' She said a 'remission scheme' reducing the fees for the lowest paid 'is woefully inadequate and many of the UK's most vulnerable workers will simply be priced out of justice.'
