Imagine you are starting a family. You need your job more than ever, but your boss thinks pregnant women can't keep up. You lose your job just when you need it most.
Unfortunately, this is the story of about 54,000 women in the United Kingdom. They lost their jobs because they were pregnant or had new babies. It's all totally illegal. UK laws clearly prohibit this kind of discrimination against new mothers.
However, a quirk in the law makes it difficult for women to get the justice they deserve. In order to sue for wrongful termination, a mother must pay steep tribunal fees. £250 to make the claim plus £950 if it goes to a hearing. How do they pay that when they've just lost their jobs? Whilst people on benefits and with minimal savings may be able to get some of the fees waived, the threshold is extremely low.
Please join me in asking the United Kingdom parliamentary committee for Women and Equalities to push the Government to remove all employment tribunal fees.
Dear Women and Equalities Committee:
I was surprised and shocked to learn that many, many women in your country have lost their jobs because they got pregnant. It is clear that your laws prohibit this kind of heinous discrimination. However, the tribunal fees make it difficult, if not impossible, for many of these young women to receive justice in your court system. Keep in mind you are demanding a court fee of someone who just lost her job and possibly her only source of income.
Although some people on benefits and with very low savings can apply for financial assistance with the fees, this process will be off-putting for most, and the threshold is too low for this aid. Somebody may need the majority of their £3,000 'savings' (the threshold at which if you have more, you cannot get help with fees) to pay their next months' rent, given they've just lost their job.
Please correct this injustice by getting rid of employment tribunal fees.
