TUC hits back over tribunal reform

The TUC has expressed concern over newspaper reports that the government is considering relaxing employment laws for some companies in an effort to spur a recovery in the UK’s private sector.

Business groups including the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have lobbied in recent weeks to relax regulations, but the trade union’s general secretary Brendan Barber warned this could leave staff exposed to poor management.

“[Employers] seem to have lost sight of the fact that if firms treated their staff as they are meant to, few would ever find themselves taken to court,” he observed.

However, Mr Barber acknowledged that the tribunal system needs to be made “more effective” and suggested engaging with unions and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service could resolve many legal disputes earlier.

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Last week, the BCC claimed some companies were choosing to settle cases out of court to avoid incurring the additional expense of taking it to a tribunal panel.

Posted by Ross George