These claims have been consolidated to form a group action. Other claims have been brought by unrepresented individuals and USDAW (another trade Union).
On Thursday 8th March 2012, Employment Judge Maidland met with the barrister we have instructed to deal with our group action and the representatives of the other claimants. He decided that one claimant from the PDA group, one claimant from the USDAW group and one of the unrepresented claimants, should become test cases as opposed to running 50 cases at the same time.
The lead cases are therefore Jones (PDA Member), Blow and Onuorah. We are currently busy preparing for the Hearing of these claims which will take place on April 10th, 11th and 12th 2012 at the Nottingham Employment Tribunal office. Whilst all claims other than the three selected by the Judge will be held in abeyance pending the outcome of these cases, all claimants are welcome to attend and observe the proceedings in the public gallery at their own expense.
Although the Judge has had to select certain cases from the large group action as test cases in order to manage proceedings we are delighted that we have persuaded him that one of our cases should be put forward as a lead. These three cases deal with the same issues and therefore the judgment will affect all claimants. The Judge has made it clear that only the unlawful deduction of wages element of the claims will be heard in April and any claims which relate to discrimination of any kind will be considered at a later date.