Errors in handling the redundancy process by Barnet Council have resulted in compensation payouts for the staff involved.
The compensation payments come after an employment tribunal hearing ruled that Barnet Council had breached employment laws.
The council failed to provide the staff’s union with the number of agency workers it employed. The information was asked for by Unison, union to the redundant staff, as part of the consultation scheme over the redundancies.
The union needed this information to try and protect the jobs of many people working for the local authority.
At the tribunal it described the council’s errors as “a relatively serious failure”, as it had failed to comply with 2011 employment laws.
Dave Prentis, Unison’s general secretary, said: “This landmark decision is an important step forward in protecting workers when they are under threat of redundancy or transfer.
“It must act as a warning to other councils that they must provide information on agency workers to unions or suffer the consequences.”
Each member of staff who was made redundant or transferred will receive protective awards of 60 days pay, and 40 and 50 days pay compensation.
The compensation award was given this week following the initial tribunal hearing last year.
A spokeswoman for Barnet Council said: “We are reviewing the judgement in detail and will consider our position in the light of it.”
Similar cases of local authorities being held to account over breaking employment law or discrimination on grounds of gender have come to light recently.
Errors in handling the redundancy process by Barnet Council have resulted in compensation payouts for the staff involved.
The compensation payments come after an employment tribunal hearing ruled that Barnet Council had breached employment laws.
The council failed to provide the staff’s union with the number of agency workers it employed. The information was asked for by Unison, union to the redundant staff, as part of the consultation scheme over the redundancies.
The union needed this information to try and protect the jobs of many people working for the local authority.
At the tribunal it described the council’s errors as “a relatively serious failure”, as it had failed to comply with 2011 employment laws.
Dave Prentis, Unison’s general secretary, said: “This landmark decision is an important step forward in protecting workers when they are under threat of redundancy or transfer.
“It must act as a warning to other councils that they must provide information on agency workers to unions or suffer the consequences.”
Each member of staff who was made redundant or transferred will receive protective awards of 60 days pay, and 40 and 50 days pay compensation.
The compensation award was given this week following the initial tribunal hearing last year.
A spokeswoman for Barnet Council said: “We are reviewing the judgement in detail and will consider our position in the light of it.”
Similar cases of local authorities being held to account over breaking employment law or discrimination on grounds of gender have come to light recently.
