The number of complaints about employee rights dealt with by Acas increased
again last year, its annual report shows.
Acas chairwoman Rita Donaghy said the small increase in employment disputes
to 167,186 indicated the trend was slowing. It had leapt by 25 per cent the
previous year.
Donaghy said, "It is still the largest figure ever, but I hope that it
shows that the rise in numbers is levelling off."
Acas also dealt with 384 requests for voluntary trade union recognition last
year, of which 264 cases were completed, an increase of 37 per cent on
1999-2000.
Donaghy thought that one of the reasons for the sharp increase in the number
of recognition cases was the introduction of the statutory right for union recognition
in June 2000.
Total cases dealt by Acas in 1999/2000 and 2000/2001
164, 525Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cases
received                        167,186
57,478                        Settled                                     64,133
40,312                        Withdrawn                              41,480
32,921Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Employment
tribunal                42,967
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130,711Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Total
cases                            148,580
Source: Acas annual report 2000-2001
