News

07/08/2025

147 Immigration Centre workers win Tribunal case over unlawful pay offer

News, Employment & discrimination

An Employment Tribunal has ruled in favour of 147 members of the Prison Officers Association (POA) working at the Gatwick Immigration Removal Centres, after finding that their employer, Serco, unlawfully bypassed the union during pay negotiations.

The group of workers brought a claim under section 145B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA), arguing that a pay offer made directly to staff in May 2023 was a deliberate attempt to sidestep the agreed collective bargaining process with the POA.

Under section 145E of TULRCA, the Tribunal awarded each of the 147 claimants a fixed sum of £5,128, meaning the employer now faces a total compensation bill of more than £750,000.

Camille Ibbotson represented the claimants, instructed by Thompsons Solicitors on behalf of the POA.