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Nightshift shift sacked

10th January 1991
Page 17
Page 17, 10th January 1991 — Nightshift shift sacked
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Parcels carrier Nightshift Express sacked a shift of nightworkers just before Christmas after a spate of pilfering incidents at its hub.

The problem arose at the company's premises in Smethwick just before it moved to its new site at Oldbury, West Midlands. An undercover police operation had resulted in three arrests, but the problem continued. The items stolen were mainly electrical goods including televisions and radios.

Nightshift sent the staff letters asking them to report thefts in confidence to the management. "The staff were asked to put their own house in order," says company director Barry Copeland. "It was a situation we could not tolerate. It was bad for business and bad for our reputation."

None of the staff came forward with information and the company was left with no option but to sack the complete shift, says Copeland.

Fifteen or 16 people were

sacked, he says. The first night after the dismissals a picket line formed protesting against unfair dismissal. But after the directors talked to the protesters the pickets stopped. The staff were paid off," says Copeland. "The directors explained that the shift had been given a chance to settle the matter, and they wouldn't or couldn't."

It had been reported in a national daily paper that one worker said he knew who was responsible but wouldn't tell the bosses as he thought he might get his legs broken, says Copeland.

The sacked staff were told they could re-apply for jobs at the Oldbury site and each application would be reviewed independently. Copeland says one or two may be taken back.

Customers whose goods were stolen have been reimbursed by Nightshift.