Working towards social justice
Work and the economic independence it brings is an essential component of social justice. Workers in the UK are protected by law against discrimination, unfair dismissal and other forms of unfair treatment.
However, the law is complex and enforcing those rights is often difficult without expert legal advice and support.
The recession has brought a significant increase in the demand for help from people who have lost their job, seen their wages or other terms and conditions cut or have been laid off illegally.
Many people also find themselves vulnerable to discrimination as the pressure on employers as grown.
Stoke CAB provides the only public funded specialist advice and employment in North Staffordshire. In the last year we provided specialist casework to over 130 people with employment disputes.
Much of the work is involved helping people apply to employment tribunals for compensation when they have been denied their rights.
Pictured above: Vanessa Sequeira - Employment Team
"Jim and Alan" worked as body sprayers for an auto repair firm which ceased trading suddenly. The owner of the building in which the firm had operated sold the premises to another repair company which took over the business and continued to employ "Jim and Alan".
9 months later the second company ceased trading out of the blue and made both "Jim and Alan" redundant. The second employer denied any responsibility for redundancy pay so this lay with the previous employer.
"Jim and Alan" came to the CAB and we advised them that this was not the case. We helped them apply to an employment tribunal for the redundancy pay they were legally entitled to and their legal entitlement to notice.
We argued their case at the tribunal and won them redundancy pay, compensation for not receiving notice, unpaid wages and an award of 2 weeks gross pay, as their second employer had failed to provide them with written terms and conditions of employment.
By the time of the tribunal award, the second employer had become insolvent and they eventually received their entitled from the Redundancy Payment Office.
"This case involved a number of different legal issues including entitlement to redundancy pay, the effects of a transfer of employment and rights to notice, unpaid wages, and to a set of written terms and conditions of employment. Without our expert intervention it is highly unlikely that "Jim or Alan" would have secured their legal entitlements, and compensation of over £10,000 each." said Specialist Services Manager Andy Eardley-James.
The best and quickest root out of poverty is through work
For those people for whom work is a viable option Stoke CAB can provide a range of support.
On the one hand we have advised many migrant workers on their rights and responsibilities under the workers registration scheme, as detailed elsewhere helps other people secure their employment rights and advised countless people on the in work benefits and tax credits which are necessary for many families to make ends meet.
What is less well known is the work we do with people to help them prepare for employment.
Over the years many volunteers have used their time at the CAB as a stepping stone back into work. The training they receive, the skills they acquire and the confidence they develop are invaluable in preparing them for work.
In 2009/2010 we decided to use that experience to benefit many people experiencing long term unemployment by joining the City's Transitional Employment Programme.
During the year 9 people who had been out of work for more than a year were offered 4 month work placements at the CAB both as advisers and in support roles.
5 of the programme participants either found work either while they were with us or shortly afterwards.
"We were delighted to take part in this scheme and offer our training and support to the benefit of people who were desperately looking for work." said the CAB Chief Executive Simon Harris. "We have always helped volunteers to use their time to find work, and many of our paid advisers started out as volunteers using that as a safe and easy root from long term unemployment, caring responsibilities or sickness back into work.
"It seemed only right therefore to extend this opportunity when the North Staffs Regeneration Partnership launched their programme in conjunction with the Job Enterprise and Training Centres. We have been delighted to work with them and are thrilled that so many of the people who use JET have found work."
One person who benefited from this scheme is now working at the CAB is Mark Edge.
Before joining the Bureau Mark (pictured) had been unemployed for over a year having been made redundant from a role in manufacturing at the start of the recession. Having had no luck finding work through the Job Centre Plus and Employment Agencies and disappointed with the support he had received from Job Centre Plus Mark approached his local JET to see if they could help.
"At the time I was also looking to switch from production work to an administrative or office job in order to further my career," said Mark the JET interviewed me and very quickly placed me with the CAB. I understand I was one of the very first placements that they arranged.
"I was very nervous coming to work in such a different environment but was amazed at how welcome I was made to feel by staff. It was an incredibly warm atmosphere and I very soon felt right at home.
"I was placed in the team of specialist debt caseworkers as a support worker inputting data into the case management systems, administering case files and carrying out a wide range of tasks to make the debt advice process run more smoothly.
"I learned a lot about debt problems and the help that CAB can give during my time as well as getting a really good opportunity to develop my administrative skills and get some recent work experience."
Shortly before the placement came to an end the Bureau advertised a couple of admin vacancies, Mark applied and was successful. For the last 9 months Mark has been working as a support worker with the Race Harassment and Hate Crime Teams.
"I have learnt a huge amount from this placement and have been amazed with the support I have received both from the Bureau and, particularly, from the JET. They gave me loads of help with my C.V., which is now a 100% better, and lots of support both before and during the placement.
"I have learned a hell of a lot and especially valued the feedback that I have had during the placement. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is struggling to find work."
"We were delighted to offer Mark a longer term job when we could, "said the Bureau Chief Executive Simon Harris. "He has been a really useful addition to the team and his contribution shows how much talent there is in the City which is being wasted due to unemployment and worklessness. We are delighted to be able to offer him a route back into employment."
