UNISON has been granted permission to appeal the High Court's decision turning down its Judicial Review application over tribunal fees, which was primarily on the basis that because the fees were introduced last year the full impact could not be judged. The Court of Appeal has now decided that the basis of the issue is of “sufficient general importance to merit permission to appeal”. UNISON will ask the Court of Appeal to consider the figures released in March 2014 that revealed Employment Tribunal claims dropped by 79% in the first six months after the Government imposed fees on workers bringing a claim. UNISON will also highlight that sex discrimination claims have dropped by 77% compared to the same period in 2012 and by 82% compared to the previous quarter. And there have been 83% fewer equal pay claims compared to the same period in 2012 – 85% less than the previous quarter. Figures for tribunal claims lodged between January and March 2014 are expected to be released in June.

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