NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union secured compensation of £15,180,407.16 for members during 2024.
The compensation was awarded for successful claims relating to unfair dismissal, redundancy, discrimination, health and safety and personal injury.
The figures are being released on the eve of the NASUWT’s Annual Conference, which is being held over the Easter weekend in Liverpool.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“If all employers took seriously their duty of care and legal responsibilities to their employees we would not be forced to pursue legal remedies to get redress for members.
“Behind every successfully concluded case is a teacher who has suffered months, and in some cases years, of mental distress and anxiety. Some members are no longer able to return to teaching due to the physical injuries they have sustained or the psychological impact of the treatment they have experienced.
“We will not hesitate to pursue justice and redress for members where they are injured, made ill or suffer unfair and discriminatory treatment at work.”
The 2024 compensation figure compares to £14,292,313.90 which was secured for members in 2023, £15,140,841.07 in 2022 and £14,815,251.03 in 2021.
Discrimination claims
The NASUWT supported a disabled member with an Employment Tribunal claim for breaches of the Equality Act 2010. The member had been subjected to discriminatory acts by the employer, such as their not implementing reasonable adjustments and undermining her professionally. Discriminatory comments were also made by her line manager, such as querying whether the member’s proposed surgery was necessary. This conduct exacerbated the member’s conditions. The member's case was settled for a significant amount before an ET hearing could take place.
The NASUWT supported a pregnant member with an Employment Tribunal claim for breaches of the pregnancy / maternity provisions of the Equality Act 2010. The employer’s treatment of our member as a pregnant woman was mishandled from the time she advised them of her pregnancy, for example they did not undertake a risk assessment for her. The member’s claim was settled for a significant amount before it could go to an ET hearing.
The NASUWT assisted a member with an Employment Tribunal claim for disability discrimination contrary the Equality Act 2010. The member had been offered a senior role within a school trust and following a pre-employment health check the medical report recommended they were fit to work with relatively minor adjustments. In response the Trust withdrew the offer. The claim was settled for a significant amount before the final ET hearing was held.
General Employment claims
The NASUWT assisted a member who was offered a settlement agreement after requesting time off for a family emergency. The member had worked at their school for 30 years and had only ever had three days off sick. The employer had been unsupportive and the member felt let down after 30 years of loyalty and an unblemished record. He was warned that if he did not accept the agreement then he would likely be made redundant through a restructure that had not even been announced by that point. The NASUWT helped to negotiate a substantial five figure settlement which the member accepted.
Personal Injury claims
A member sustained a fractured left heel bone which required surgery after a traffic accident. The member was directing traffic in the school car park as instructed by the headteacher when a car collided into him propelling him over the bonnet before he fell to the floor. Prior to the case going to court a substantial six figure settlement offer was accepted by our member.
A member was injured when she was about to sit down on a bench which was on wheels which then moved. As a consequence, she fell to the floor and banged her head and subsequently suffered symptoms such as concussion, headaches, dizziness, nausea and poor co-ordination. Court proceedings were commenced but satisfactory terms of settlement were eventually reached with a significant six figure payment for damages.
A member was injured when a pupil threw a laptop at her head which resulted in a loss of consciousness. Medical evidence was obtained and negotiations were entered into and a substantial five figure settlement was agreed.
