LRD guides and handbook October 2012

Employment tribunals - a practical guide for trade unionists

Chapter 2

Parties to the proceedings

Almost all tribunal claims are brought by an employee or worker against their employer. The individuals or organisations involved in the claim are known as the parties to the proceedings. The individual bringing the claim is called the claimant and the employer against whom the claim is brought is called the respondent. While employers can counterclaim this is only in relation to a claim in contract and, in practice, is very rare.