REPORT TO BE PRESENTED BY
THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY
Employment Tribunal Side Members – Extension of Appointments
Background
The maximum number of members that may be appointed to the Jersey Employment Tribunal is 18 members; a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman, eight ‘employee’ Side Members and eight ‘employer’ Side Members.
In 2005, the appointments of 14 Tribunal members were approved by the States. Terms were offered on a staggered basis, varying between one and five years, to ensure that the terms of all those appointed did not expire on the same day, to provide continuity in the composition of the Tribunal.
A further period of recruitment in 2008 resulted in the appointment of four additional Side Members. One of those members has since resigned and that Side Member position is currently vacant. The 17 other positions on the Employment Tribunal are currently filled.
The Tribunal Regulations
The Employment Tribunal (Jersey) Regulations, 2005, provide that Tribunal members are appointed by the States initially, but if a member chooses to take a second (and final) term, up to the maximum of five years, they are entitled to do so. This is in order to secure the tenure of persons appointed to offices in which their independence should be protected.
Extension of appointments
The first terms of the following three Side Members expire on 22 June 2009.
Mr Peter Woodward is a Human Resources Consultant, Executive Coach and is also a Convenor of the Guernsey Employment and Discrimination Panel. Mr Woodward has chosen a five year extension to his term.
Mrs Susan Armes is the Human Resources Director of the Seymour Hotels Group and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Mrs Armes’ has chosen a three year extension to her term.
Mr James McCartan is the Unite Convener for Connex and Unite Chairman for the Jersey District Committee . Mr McCartan has chosen a 5 year extension to his term.
I am grateful to the three Side Members for requesting second terms on the Employment Tribunal and I would like to thank all of the Employment Tribunal members, the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and the Secretary for their continued hard work and commitment.