Shop steward sacking was fair
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• The decision of A Clarke & Co (Smethwick) to sack a shop steward at its Rutherglen depot after he had divulged confidential financial information to customers and other employees, has been held to be fair by a Glasgow industrial tribunal.
The tribunal was told that Joseph Docherty, had been employed by the company as a driver since 1971 and that he had been shop steward at Rutherglen for 16 years. During 1989 the company lost business. It was under pressure from its bank, being warned the bank might consider putting it into receivership; though those problems had since been overcome. It was decided that a number of redundancies would have to be made. The company's managing director and the depot manager met Docherty and a full time union official, to explain the situation. It was made quite clear that the information was being given in confidence.
The tribunal said it was satisfied the company had reasonable grounds for believing Docherty had disclosed sensitive financial information given to him in confidence, and dismissal was within the band of reasonable responses.