UNISON has welcomed the Scottish Government announcement that it intends to abolish fees for employment tribunals in Scotland.
This announcement comes the week after UNISON vowed to go to the UK Supreme Court in its ongoing fight to appeal against the UK government’s decision to introduce employment tribunal fees across the UK – after the Court of Appeal rejected UNISON’s case.
Mike Kirby, UNISON Scottish Secretary said: “The announcement to end tribunal fees in Scotland is hugely welcome. There is clear evidence that people at work are being priced out of justice, with women, disabled people and the low-paid being disproportionately punished. This decision will ensure that people at work in Scotland will get a fair opportunity to have their case heard. This announcement goes a long way towards building more sensible industrial relations in Scotland and we welcome it.”
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary said: “We urge the UK government to look at what is happening in Scotland to see that there is a better way. Workers across the UK who have been treated badly at work are being denied access to justice day after day, simply because they don’t have the money to take a case. Now it seems that workers in Scotland are at least going to get a better deal. Our fight for fairness at work and access to justice for every person at work in the UK will continue until these unfair and punitive fees are scrapped right across the land.”