Pay row led to sacking
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• A Manchester Industrial Tribunal has decided that four drivers were unfairly dismissed by Accrington-based Greenies Rosewood Transport & Warehousing.
The tribunal has adjourned the case for a further hearing to consider whether to order compensation or reinstatement.
Evidence was given that in November 1991 the four drivers, Kenneth Hodgson, John and Peter Grinishaw, and Philip Cross, learnt that a member of the warehouse staff had received a substantial pay increase.
They resented that because they had been prepared to go without any pay increase themselves for the previous 18 months because of the financial state of the business.
During a meeting with managing director David Green, arguments became heated. Green complained about the drivers using cabphones for private purposes, saying that the operation of vehicles was costing the company a considerable amount.
The drivers made suggestions for cutting down the costs, such as locking up the mobile phones, which Green took to be threats to damage the vehicles in some way.
Asked whether he intended to dismiss them, Green said "Yes". The four then handed their keys to Green, even though the wagons were loaded up for delivery the next day.
Green said that he had taken exception to remarks such as "you will regret this" and "the customers will suffer". He felt threatened and believed that the drivers had been making threats to damage his business.
The tribunal found that Green had over-reacted, being in a somewhat emotional state because he was under extreme pressure. The four men had worked for the company for some time and to act reasonably time should have been allowed for further investigation.