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14 June 2012 / Michael Salter , Chris Bryden
Issue: 7518 / Categories: Blogs
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Book review: Struck Out: Why Employment Tribunals fail workers and what can be done

Struck Out hits the market at an opportune time.

 

Author: David Renton 
Publisher: Pluto Press (8 Mar 2012)
ISBN: 9780745332550 Price: £19.99

Reform of the tribunal system has never been more topical, and practitioners are acutely aware of the frustrations their clients frequently feel at all stages of the litigation process. 

As its name indicates the book takes an unashamedly claimant-focused assessment of the employment justice system in England and Wales, starting with the foundation of tribunals, progressing through specific topics such as equal pay and agency workers, and, after a nod towards human rights law, and the unions, ends with a suggested handful of reforms.
 
A troublesome adolescent

Perhaps unconsciously, the author hits upon what appears to be the real issue in the next decade: what does the tribunal service want to be? As with any troublesome adolescent the answer is not clear. Does it want to be a court with all the formality and technicality that goes with it (the
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