UNITE the union celebrated today a potentially groundbreaking legal victory against bogus self-employment at the employment appeal tribunal (EAT).

The union brought pipe-fitter Russ Blakely’s case against employment agency On-Site Recruitment Solutions Limited and payroll company Heritage Solutions City Ltd for the unlawful deduction of wages and national insurance contributions and unpaid holiday pay.

The Reading employment tribunal initially ruled against Mr Blakely, finding he was not a worker, but the EAT – whose decision is binding on all employment tribunals – overturned that decision on appeal.