Thompsons Solicitors has been standing side by side with trade unions for almost 100 years.
In recognition of the Trade Union Congress’ (TUC) 150th anniversary, we’re celebrating our commitment to the trade union movement and the work we have done, and continue to do, to improve workers’ rights, and campaign for justice and equality.
Day-to-day, our specialist teams support millions of trade union members and their families who have suffered injuries or injustice at work, on holiday or in public places.
To highlight our on-going support, our trade union solicitors are sharing a snapshot of the work they do to help union members and their families across the country to make a compensation claim.
Stefanie Button, a litigation executive from Thompsons Solicitors’ Stoke office, gives us an insight into how she stands with unions on a weekly basis:
"My role at Thompsons Solicitors involves litigating cases from the start of the court process, right through to settlement or trial. An ongoing court case can be a stressful and worrying time in anyone’s life. My role is to not only progress the case, but also simply to be there when a client needs someone to listen and offer reassurance. I advise and guide union members through an alien and often confusing court process and help them to understand what’s happening.
"Standing with unions is not just ingrained in every case we fight - it continues into our lives at Thompsons on a weekly basis. I have attended various events to show support for and stand with our union comrades. Being part of what is important to the hardworking members that make our unions strong means I have been on marches in Manchester and London and joined members both in their local meetings and on the picket line. Attending meetings of reps in their workplaces to listen and assist with the issues they are fighting for is an important part of what I do and I also joined UCU members on the picket line at Keele University as they fought for their pensions.
“Keeping in touch with union networks is vital to help us gather the evidence we need to build strong cases. From a workplace representative talking me through what happens in a complex workplace or what’s involved in a work task to a union branch contact acting as a link between us as lawyers and the representatives and members in the workplace, means not only that we have regular contact with the unions we represent, but it is crucial to every case we fight.
“At Thompsons, standing with unions is part of everyday life. It is at the forefront of what we do and it’s something I am very proud to be a part of.”
To learn more about how we support trade unions, visit our Standing with Unions campaign page.