Record breaking year for Legal Plus service

Usdaw members shared more than £16 million pound last year after the union’s legal service recovered its highest total yet for employees injured or unfairly treated at work. The figure for 2001 smashed through the previous year’s record breaking amount by more than £2,600,000, making it an even more remarkable and rewarding year for union members.

Accident and disease cases continue to make up the largest part of the compensation total. In 2001, there were more than 6,000 new cases, with personal injury damages amounting to £14,884,839.

The latest figures underline how important the union's free legal service is to members. Last year, 11,761 members applied for assistance, that is one in 26 of the total membership.

The union's newly expanded Legal Plus service is more than insurance against personal injury, important as this is.

Usdaw has had a very successful year at the employment tribunals, where it has represented members on a number of unfair dismissal cases - with more than £1 million recovered.

Another part of the varied caseload also involved the Working Time Regulations and the Public Disclosure (or whistle-blowing) Act.

With the expansion of the legal plus service to include non-work related issues, last year saw a dramatic increase in take-up by more than 4,000 members.

Since the free will service was launched, two years ago, more than 4,000 members have taken advantage of the scheme.

Advice has been given out on health and safety issues, pension problems and other enquiries. The free half-hour interview with a local solicitor, on any non-work matter, continues to be popular with members.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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