Union-backed tribunal cases have a higher success rate

Trade union membership has its privileges, according to yesterday's TUC report, Focus on Employment Tribunal, Trends survey. Trade union-backed cases have a higher success rate than non-union ones. Unions won an estimated £14m for their members in employment tribunal claims last year.

While 95% of union cases are settled or won at tribunal, the latest figures from the Employment Tribunals Service show nearly a third (29%) of British cases are lost. These figures suggest that unions can be trusted to take strong cases and that non-union cases fail either because applicants lack union input or because they are given faulty advice.

The report shows that simply bringing a claim backed by a union makes many employers settle, and even where cases go all the way to tribunal, 83% of them are won.

The survey also shows unions winning more in compensation than was the case in previous Trends reports. The average award for sex discrimination between November 1999 and October 2000 (the period covered by the report) was £17,082 - almost double that of the previous year.

To boost the linguistic skills of British business, Trade Minister Richard Caborn has launched the Seventh National Languages for Export Awards. The UK has many excellent examples of good practice, and these awards will make sure that companies' training providers and language schools gain recognition for their achievements.

The awards are organised by Trade Partners UK, the government's export promotion and development service.

Applications are welcomed from companies of all sizes, training, translation and interpretation organisations and schools, colleges and further education institutions.

For an application form, go to: www.tradepartners.gov.uk/ national_languages/award_ scheme/

The search is on for nominations for the European Women of Achievement Awards, organised by the British Section of the European Union of Women and backed by IBM. They recognise outstanding achievement in Europe among women in five key categories: arts and media, business, entrepreneur, humanitarian and professional. The judging panel will be looking for instigators or pioneers of success. Call Peta Payne on 020-7222-6577 for an information pack.