ENGINEERING bosses say there has been a marked increase in the number of industrial tribunal cases going to a full hearing rather than being settled in advance.
The Engineering Employers' Federation says 660 full hearings were handled last year - an increase of 15 per cent from1995.
EEF Lancashire say 31 cases went to a full hearing in 1996 compared to 13 in the previous year.
Chief Executive John Brown is convinced that this trend, if continued, will bring a cost penalty to industry.
He said: "Whatever the reasons, the amount of time and effort involved in industrial tribunal hearings is a significant cost."
Mr Brown went on: "We are delighted that EEF Lancashire had an 80 per cent success rate on behalf of its members in cases going to a full hearing in 1996, but the trend is disturbing and shows the importance of an effective screening process if all concerned are to avoid a lot of wated time and effort."
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