I was dismissed from my job of 26 years in January 2006, for something I hadn;t done, for something that was totally unconnected with my day job (which I had done for 26 years) and this happened at the exact time I had just split up with my partner of 12 years, was being harassed and threatened to the extent I had to involve the police, and I also lost my home at the same time. Understandably i was in no state whatsoever to fight back. I was poorly represented by Unison who then told me I ought to try for unfair dismissal and because i was clearly very mentally ill by now I had up to three years. How wrong could they be! It was three months so I lost out on being able to claim. Not once did my rep correct me and say it had tobe done within three months!

Bearing in mind that overnight i was homeless, single and jobless, and obviously in themiddle of a breakdown with it all, do I have any recourse whatsoever to try now for unfair dismissal. I don't my job back, my life is now back on track and I am mentally strong again; howev er, what happened to me was appalling and I would never want anyone else to suffer like this.

Any help? Cheers!

You didnt actually say why you were dismissed.

What reasons were givne for your dismissal?

How awful.

I'm dead against union reps as this is just typical of the nonsense they call 'advice.'

One of my union membership was the CWU-which includes posties.

Would you ask your postman for the answers to complicated legal questions?

I would guess you would have a very difficult time in trying to convince an ET to hear your case now. I know somebody who had a nervous breakdown and only felt able to begin litigation once he was well enough and his claim was dismissed despite doctors records etc.

I'd seek proper advice, not a union rep, and see if you can pursue something in the civil courts.

Good luck.

Hi there

I am so sorry to hear what happened to you. I would suggest that you speak to a solicitor who specialises in employment law and explain the circumstances to them.

Advising you that you had 3 years to claim is outrageous. This is basic, standard, advice and something that anybody working as a union rep should have known. Alternatively, they should have passed you to their solicitors.

This is absolutely disgusting and something that you might want to take up with the union now that you are stronger.

Good luck

Gemspan

This may be no use to you, but if you had home insurance at the time, check to see if you had a legal expenses policy in force as some of these will provide free legal advice at the very least.

Hope everything goes well for you from now on.

Just shows the quality of this reps advice, its three years for an accident claim but only three months for employment tribunal.

Poor union training if you ask me. Schoolboy error.

Consider taking the union to court, they cant handle bad press and will likely settle out of court as a good will gesture. One of their agents has given bad advice that has lead to a tribunal case being screwed up and a job being lost

I think thats grounds enough

Prouty

I worked for 26 years for Local Authority. I did them a favour (for a dept other than my own) and night sat at an old peoples home, one night a week, for another dept. I had no contract, no training, just got on with it. When I started Imade them aware I had an elderly family friend living on the scheme. The Manager was fine. My friend and i used to sitr out in the garden early morning, read the paper ( I used to read it to her as by then her sight was poor) have a cuppa etc. Overnight the Manager changed to a new one, had a fit when she realised about my old friend and I, and accused me of fleecing her for money! She never had any money! For this and even though my friend and I denied this emphatically, I was sacked from my day job as well! That's what happend, and then on top of all that Unison told me I had three years to get well and make a claim! I am fine now, and sometimes life is greener but good lord what a mess I was back then! Oh yes, even though my employer knew what strain I was under with the breakdown of a long relationship, sale of house etc they still kicked me out of the staff flat they had just given me as well, so I was homeless as well!