Sacking unfair
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EDINBURGH lorry driver Ronald McCardle has been awarded E2,050 by an industrial tribunal. In a written judgement, the tribunal said that Mr McCardle was unfairly dismissed by the Leith Glazing Company, where he had been employed since July 1982 as a heavy goods vehicle driver.
On January 23 he was told by the foreman he was being dismissed. No reason was given, the tribunal heard. Several letters to the firm from the Citizens' Advice Bureau also failed to elicit any reason.
But company director Arthur Hickman said a fall in orders meant there was less driving work. It was decided to make Mr McCardle redundant because, unlike the firm's other two drivers, he did not hold an hgv Class 1 licence, entitling him to drive articulated vehicles.
At the time, the firm had four heavy goods vehicles, one articulated. In February, another driver — who did hold a Class 1 licence — started work with the firm.
The tribunal found it difficult to accept that Mr McCardle's lack of such a licence had any bearing on his dismissal. They were satisfied that arrangements to employ the other driver had been made before McCardle was dismissed.