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Fines for tribunal abuse
Page 12
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• Hauliers and drivers are to face stiff financial penalties if they fail to follow correct procedures before going to an employment tribunal. The measures, outlined in a draft Employment Bill, are designed to weed out thousands of time-wasting cases from the tribunal system. But following protests from union leaders the Government has backed down from charging employees who take their grievances to tribunals.
A Department of Trade & Industry spokesman says research shows that in 60% of cases there is no communication betwee employers and employees prior to a hearing Roy Abrahams, divisional officer of th United Road Transport Union, represents a average of 15 drivers a year before tribunal: He says it is in the interests of both sides t sort out any dispute before going to a tri bunal—with or without new legislation: "C course there are odd cases where there hay been no procedures to follow at all, but that I the exception."
• See Comment, page 8.