Every year, over a hundred thousand workers bring claims to the Employment Tribunal. The settling of disputes between employers and unions has been exchanged by many for individual litigation.
In Struck Out Dave Renton gives a practical and critical guide to the system. In doing so he punctures a number of media myths about the tribunals. Far from bringing flimsy cases, two-thirds of claimants succeed at the hearing. Far from paying lottery-size jackpots, average awards are just a few thousand pounds – scant consolation for a loss of employment and often serious psychological suffering. The book includes a critique of the present government’s proposals to reform the Tribunal system.
Employment Tribunals are often seen by workers as the last line of defence against unfairness in the workplace. Struck Out shows why we can't rely on the current system to deliver fairness and why big changes are needed.
'David Renton’s new book is very approachable and readable. It opens up
employment law to students and employees alike.' Professor Linda Clarke, University of Westminster.
'The debate over employment law reform is in danger of being overwhelmed by rhetoric and misinformation. This book is essential reading for its empirically grounded and dispassionate analysis of what has gone wrong and how it might be put right.' Simon Deakin, Professor of Law, University of Cambridge
'"Employment law in this country isn't written for working people" - I've lost count of how many times I've heard that at union meetings. But when you're the person victimised at work, then we all hope Employment Tribunals will deliver us justice. With this excellent step-by-step explanation of how the system works in reality, David Renton explains why it so rarely does. Blacklisted workers have experienced the process first-hand and know this book is true.' Dave Smith, Blacklisted Construction worker
Struck Out will be published by Pluto Press in April 2012.
Some articles based on the research for the book can be accessed here:
Agency workers; one steps forward, two steps back
'Deliver us from Employment Tribunal hell?'
Employment Tribunals, a venture capitalist writes
Keep on trucking
The London Philarmonic and freedom of expression.
Luis Suarez: Offence is no defence
On the picket line: a cuts agenda takes shape?
Osborne and the Bullingdon club’s vision of law for the rich
'Resolving Workplace Disputes, the view from the RCJ'
Tribunal of the boss
Tribunals and tribulations
Waging war
What about the workers
The book now has its own blog.
