4. Safety reps, safety committees and taking action



Key changes and developments since last year


• The new Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 require public authorities to provide information on safety reps’ facility time.


• An employment tribunal ordered the reinstatement of a nurse sacked by an NHS trust for sickness-absence related to domestic violence.


• A general GMB union member chef who was sacked after he blew the whistle about faulty catering equipment won compensation in an employment tribunal case.


• Public services union UNISON’s challenge to the government’s introduction of employment tribunal fees reached the Supreme Court in March 2017.


• Blacklisting Support Group founder Dave Smith lost his claim for blacklisting against Carillion in the European Court of Human Rights.


• The general Unite union announced that it is beginning a new blacklisting court case on behalf of over 60 members.