Employment Rights Service

Thompsons McClure provides a full range of legal services including advice and representation to trade union members and employees in the area of employment law. Matters covered included contracts of employment, Unfair Dismissal, Redundancy, Discrimination, Equal Pay and Compromise Agreements. We have a team of 3 solicitors who specialise in employment law.

Recent successes

Hundreds of poultry workers helped by BFAWU

Hundreds of poultry workers whose terms of employment were originally changed without their agreement have received compensation after the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) stepped in.

You can read the full news story here.

Three year battle for permanent status successful.

A claim brought on behalf of a UNISON member who was a fixed term employee for permanent status was settled in her favour. Such claims are important in enforcing the under-used right to acquire permanent status and other rights given to fixed term workers. Read the press release.

Recent successes at the Industrial Tribunal include:

Andrew Biggart -v- University of Ulster where a university lecturer and UCU member was awarded £38,000 for Unfair Dismissal when he was made redundant at the end of a fixed term contract without the employer giving proper consideration to seeking suitable alternative employment.

Gary Scott –v- First Trust Bank where a bank employee and IBOA member was awarded in excess of 2 years pay because his employer had suspended him without pay without any contractual right to do so.

Most cases are resolved without a Tribunal hearing and we regularly achieve very good settlements for our clients. Our expertise is widely recognised and the independent Chambers Guide of the UK Legal Profession rates us as the top legal firm in Northern Ireland for trade unions and Applicants.

For more information about specific employment rights please see the main Thompsons website. www.thompsons.law.co.uk

The substance of employment law in Northern Ireland is generally exactly the same as in England and Wales. The main difference is that that our Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 outlaws discrimination on the grounds of religion and political opinion - further information about this is available from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. www.equalityni.org

The following differences in terminology should also be noted:

• In Northern Ireland most employment matters are dealt with by Industrial Tribunals. The equivalent bodies in England and Wales are known as Employment Tribunals.

• In Northern Ireland the organisation which provides free advice, conciliation and arbitration services in relation to employment matters and disputes is the Labour Relations Agency. The same role is carried out in England and Wales by ACAS (Advice Conciliation and Arbitration Service). www.lra.org.uk