Legal Beagle

With the government clamping down on protest rights, Thompsons Solicitors updates on the latest changes Since the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist group, expressing support for the organisation now risks a 14-year prison sentence. Over 200 arrests have been...

The Worker Protection Act came into force in October 2024. Jo Seery of Thompsons Solicitors outlines what this means for FBU members. It amends the Equality Act 2010 by introducing a new duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the course of employment. It is designed to ensure employers...

Water rescue training is vital for firefighters, but comes with risks, particularly from waterborne illnesses and dry suit issues. Exposure to pathogens in rivers or lakes can cause serious diseases: LEPTOSPIROSIS: Found in water contaminated by animal urine, can lead to severe complications...

Neil Todd, partner, trade union law group, Thompsons Solicitors, explains The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act allows employers to serve “work notices” on trade unions calling strike action in “relevant services”. Work notices identify which workers are required to work during the period...

The FBU has launched a campaign for 52 weeks of full-pay maternity leave, and most firefighters already have improved parental leave and pay. But what is the statutory minimum for everyone in the UK? Jo Seery of Thompsons Solicitors, outlines what the law says Maternity leave: Pregnant employees are...

The Act became law on 20 July. Neil Todd, a partner in Thompsons Solicitors’ Trade Union Law Group, outlines its provisions New rules give the secretary of state for business powers to introduce regulations specifying minimum service levels (MSLs) in public services including fire and rescue. The...

Asbestos, a “hidden killer”, remains a serious health risk in the UK, with approximately 5,000 people dying each year from asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos can lie dormant for decades, and about 1.5 million buildings in the UK still contain asbestos that could pose a health risk if disturbed. If...

Thompsons solicitors see first-hand the impact on workers (and their families) when management treat health and safety as just a box-ticking exercise. That is why we fight the cases but also campaign with the FBU to promote proper health and safety in the workplace. Making a legal claim All...

What does the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill mean for members? The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill would allow employers to serve “work notices” on trade unions organising industrial action in “relevant services” in which the government would be entitled to set minimum service levels...

Amid talk of how employers and government might react to industrial action in the fire and rescue service, Thompsons Solicitors set out the legal position. Fire and rescue services (FRSs) have a legal obligation to provide cover Under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. The Civil Contingencies...