by Karen Miles • An Exel Logistics driver and union
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official sacked for serious misconduct is set to launch a national campaign for his reinstatement.
Michael Danaher claims Exel sacked him unfairly because of his Transport and General Workers Union activities at its Sainsbury's distribu tion centre at Rotherham. He is also planning to appeal against the decision at industrial tribunal.
Danaher was sacked after leaving his 38-tonne truck unattended and with the engine running as he tried to dig out another lorry driver from deep snow in January's blizzards in Yorkshire.
But this week Exel denies any wrongdoing. "Leaving ignition keys in an open vehicle was an act of serious misconduct ... And it is not true that he was dismissed because of his position," Exel says.Within three months he hopes to argue at industrial tribunal that his sacking by the NFC company was "a gross over-reaction" and was brought on because of his role. as TGWU branch secretary for the 600 Rotherham staff. Danaher will also ask the TGWU general secretary Bill Morris to support his reinstatement campaign and will be addressing union meetings nationwide to push his cause.