Andy Burnham to announce he’d scrap employment tribunal fees

Andy Burnham has said that he would scrap employment tribunal fees if he was Prime Minister.

Burnham is one of four people in the running to be Labour’s next leader.

Speaking at a hustings held by Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation (TULO) tomorrow, Burnham will announced that Keir Starmer, newly-elected MP for Holborn and St Pancras and former Director of Public Prosecutions, will spearhead a review into replacing the current fees system. The review will include consulting with business and unions, while looking at how to minimise costs to the taxpayer and giving employers quick resolution.

The Coalition introduced tribunal fees in 2013; claimants must pay £160 to launch a claim, £230 for a tribunal and they could have to pay up to £1,200 for a hearing. People who lodge claims of unfair dismissal or discrimination have to pay £250 initially and £950 for a hearing.

The Ministry and Justice released information which showed that there has been a 90% drops in claims since this system was introduced. Similarly, the Trade Union Congress also found last year that claims brought by women on the grounds of sex discrimination had dropped to a fifth of levels two years ago.

Burnham will criticise David Cameron for introducing these fees, explaining:

“David Cameron is presiding over a damaging casualisation of the British workforce. Record numbers of people are on part-time or zero-hour contracts, unsure whether they will get enough hours to make ends meet.

“More and more people are at risk of exploitation in the workplace. Now more than ever, workers need the ability to protect themselves. But this Prime Minister has made it harder for ordinary people to do that. Workers with genuine grievances are denied access to justice because of their inability to pay the fees.

“Cameron’s tribunal fees are a barrier that puts justice out of reach for the workers who need it most. Under my leadership, a Labour Government will scrap this unfair system. That is why I have asked Keir Starmer MP to carry out a review, with business and unions, that will seek to restore to all workers the basic human right of access to justice regardless of ability to pay.”