Employment law stories in the news – 24.07.2017 to 30.07.2017

In the latest of our series of posts on employment law stories in the news, we take a look at ten employment law stories that have made headlines between 24 July and 30 July 2017

  1. Employment tribunal fees unlawful, Supreme Court rules – Fees for those bringing employment tribunal claims have been ruled unlawful, and the government will now have to repay up to £32m to claimants (BBC)
  2. £1m fine for Crossrail contractor following three incidents – A joint venture comprising of three companies established to support the Crossrail tunnel construction has been fined a total of more than £1m following three separate incidents on the project, including the death of a worker (HSE)
  3. Players made redundant by Bradford Bulls win right to employment tribunal – Around 40 players and staff made redundant as a result of the collapse of Bradford Bulls have been given the go-ahead to take their case for financial redress to a full employment tribunal (Sky Sports)
  4. Perth College UHI bosses accused of corruption as they lose £34,000 – A damning employment tribunal judgment has questioned the honesty of senior staff at Perth College UHI. Former principal Margaret Munckton and current vice-principal Susan Bald were described by a judge as “poor witnesses” who dodged questions as they attacked the character of former colleague Gerard McIver (The Courier)
  5. Employment tribunal fees: MPs claim ‘damage is already done’ in open letter to Justice Secretary – More than 70 MPs demand Government recompenses workers who were unable to bring forward workplace tribunal cases due to high fees, which were this week ruled unlawful (The Independent)
  6. Christian magistrate in gay adoption row set for legal battle with NHS bosses – A Christian magistrate who lost his job and then his role as an NHS director for speaking out against adoption by same-sex parents will this week sue NHS bosses claiming political correctness can prevent Christians holding public posts (The Telegraph)
  7. Company fined after worker died as a result of a wall collapse – A North East based company Mike Neesam & Son Limited has been fined after a wall collapse which led to the death of 43-year old Steven Ratcliffe (HSE)
  8. Uber and Deliveroo chiefs face new grilling by MPs – Uber, Deliveroo and other representatives of the “gig economy” face fresh inquiries by British MPs, which will involve their senior executives being grilled by a parliamentary committee over the companies’ working conditions (The Guardian)
  9. Black judge in Lutfur Rahman case sues for race discrimination – A black judge is suing the lord chief justice and a former lord chancellor for race discrimination in a landmark employment tribunal case. Peter Herbert, a crown court recorder, claims to be the first judge to sue leading fellow judges by name (The Times)
  10. SAS soldier says he faced anti-gay discrimination – An SAS soldier claims underlying prejudice against gay personnel is hampering their pro motion – despite a senior general saying he wants to spearhead sexual equality (The Telegraph)