UCU legal scheme

Like all unions UCU tries to resolve members' employment related disputes through negotiations at local level. Your branch or local association should always be your first port of call.

However, sometimes disputes cannot be resolved locally. Consequently, the union offers legal services to members.

On this page, you will find information about the key points of our scheme, and how to apply under it. Please note that there are time limits applicable to claims which are to be brought in either the tribunals or the courts. The most significant of these are listed here: Time limits overview

A more comprehensive list is to be found here:  Table of individual employment rights qualifying periods, 1 Feb 2009 (.pdf) [174kb]

• Please note that as from 6 April 2009 the applicable time limits have been affected by changes to the statutory grievance and disciplinary procedures:  Legal scheme procedures and time limits - effective from 6 April 2009
• For those matters which occurred on or before 5 April 2009 and to which the statutory disciplinary and grievance procedure apply please follow this link:  Legal scheme procedures and time limits - effective until 6 April 2009

• UCU legal services FAQs

Your regional office can also provide you with more information about the legal scheme and the regulations under which the scheme is operated.

Legal scheme: key points

The scheme covers employment rights, personal injury (including workplace stress), police enquiries.

It excludes defamation, representation by your own legal advisers, where your interests are in conflict with UCU's, and to bring legal action against UCU.

You must be a member of UCU whose subscriptions are up to date. Unless you joined UCU at the earliest opportunity you could, you must also have been a member for at least 90 days.

UCU will not meet legal costs it has not specifically authorised.

Employment rights

If you are involved in a dispute with your employer arising from your work, the union can offer you advice on your rights and remedies. In some cases, the union will also provide legal representation.

• To apply for assistance you must contact your branch or local association who can refer you to the regional office.

Police enquiries

If you are asked by the police to attend an interview in connection with an investigation arising from your work, the union can arrange for a lawyer to accompany you to that interview.

• To apply for assistance, you must contact your regional office as soon as you are notified that the police wish to interview you.

Personal injury

Every year thousands of injuries are sustained in the workplace. The union's specialist personal injury lawyers can advise and represent you to recover compensation.

Claims covered include:

• any work-related accident or disease at or away from work for members (including road traffic accidents to and from work and away from work, eg field trips) which was not your fault
• any non-work accident or disease in the UK for family members (including road traffic accidents) which was not their fault
• some accidents abroad for members and family members where they were not at fault
• any clinical negligence arising from medical treatment after a work-related accident or disease.

UCU's personal injury service is provided by union solicitors Thompsons and Russell Jones and Walker who deal with compensation claims under a collective conditional fee agreement. Unlike many other high street claims firms, the UCU legal service guarantees that members get 100% of their compensation won and won't be charged a penny whether or not their claim is successful.

A low cost national call rate phone line gives quick access to the service without having to fill out any complicated forms:

• Phone number/process details: 0333 2400 474
  
  Email: injuredatwork@ucu.org.uk