UNISON members win stress awards

Public services union UNISON has won compensation for two former employees of Cumbria County Council who lost their jobs as a result of work-related stress. Day service officers Janet Melling and Jean Chadwick were awarded pst51,414 and pst60,348 respectively.

In court the council tried to defend the high incidence of stress-related illness and absence by saying that it was endemic in the organisation, even though managers were supportive of and sympathetic towards their staff.