Mr Eric Bonsu v Royal Mail Group Limited — 2023

The hearing concerned the Claimant's application for interim relief pending determination of his unfair dismissal complaint. The Claimant did not attend and asked for the hearing to be rescheduled because internal Royal Mail and CWU processes were ongoing. The tribunal treated that as a postponement application, found no special circumstances justifying postponement under section 162 TULRCA, and proceeded in his absence.

The Claimant alleged that his dismissal was unfair and that being a union representative contributed to it. The Respondent's position was that he was dismissed for gross misconduct after allegations that he called colleagues "traitors" during industrial action, which it regarded as abusive conduct rather than protected union activity.

For the interim relief application, the tribunal had to decide whether it was likely that the final tribunal would find the dismissal automatically unfair under section 152 TULRCA. It found that the Claimant had not shown a "pretty good chance" of establishing that the sole or principal reason for dismissal was union membership or activities. The tribunal therefore dismissed the interim relief application and made no order for reinstatement, re-engagement, or continuation of contract.