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NASUWT secures £12 million compensation

NASUWT secures £12 million compensation

The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, secured £12,625,509 compensation for members in 2011.

The figure represented an increase of 19.7% percent compared to the 2010 figure of £10,544,092.

The compensation was awarded for successful claims for unlawful deduction of wages, unfair dismissal, breach of contract, constructive dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, age and trade union activity.

The largest out-of-court Tribunal settlement obtained during 2011 was £65,000 for a teacher from the North West who brought a pregnancy related sex discrimination claim against her employer.

The Head of Faculty was off sick following a stillbirth and when she became pregnant again began her maternity leave early because of a pregnancy-related illness.

Immediately following the birth of her baby she was asked to mark work and attend school meetings during her maternity leave, concerning a complaint and an allegation of misconduct, both of which had no substance.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, said:

“Employers who deliberately flout the law are not only causing distress, ill-health and job loss, they are costing taxpayers millions of pounds.

"Behind each of these cases is a person whose life has been damaged through serious injury or unfair dismissal from their chosen career.

"Compensation is important but it is cold comfort when they have lost their job or their mental or physical health is irreparably damaged.

It is a disgrace that in the face of the current abuse of employment law, the Government still intends to deregulate further, condemning even more working people to unjust treatment.”

ENDS

NASUWT Press Office contacts:
Ben Padley 07785 463 119
Lena Davies 07867 392 746