Derby Playhouse tribunal win

A tribunal case brought by BECTU on behalf of former staff at the Derby Playhouse has succeeded.

The Employment Tribunals ruled that staff are entitled to a protective award equal to 90 days’ pay due to the employer’s failure to consult with them over redundancies last November.

BECTU supported the legal action on behalf of eight union members at the theatre; however the judgement will be applied to 75 former staff.

Commenting on the result, Lynne Korniak, BECTU National Official said: “We are pleased that the case has been successful and that our members stand to secure some compensation for the employer’s failure to consult; what is also clear is that if consultation had taken place, BECTU could have assisted management’s efforts to keep the theatre open at that time.”

Ruling on a separate claim, the tribunals also found that four BECTU members had been unfairly dismissed.

UK employers are required to consult with staff as soon as redundancy proposals look likely. Where more than 20 staff are affected by proposed job cuts, failure to consult can be challenged in the tribunals.

The Derby Playhouse is currently in administration which means that staff covered by the tribunal judgement will need to apply to the government’s Redundancy Payment Office to secure payment.

BECTU has been supporting the venue and its former staff since it encountered difficulties last year; the venues problems were made worse by the Arts Council’s decision to withdraw funding.

Work is currently underway aimed at reopening the venue later this year.