Worker wins pay-put from own union

Sandra Brooks (59), who lives in Dinnington, who had been a member of Unite for 15 years, wanted to make a claim for unfair dismissal against the Co-Op Bank in Sheffield.

Sandra approached Unite to represent her after deciding to pursue a claim for unfair dismissal and age discrimination against her former Sheffield employer.

She asked Unite to represent her, but later discovered that the claim had not been registered within statutory time limits and she had lost the legal right to pursue the claim.

Solicitors Wake Smith started a claim for professional negligence against the union, which offerered a settlement before the case went to court.