Driver sacked for sticking to his hours
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SCOTTISH lorry driver who refused to drive to Wick in two nights as acting within his rights as he said it was not possible to make e journey in that time without breaking the law.
His stance, on top of other alged irregularities, led to Alan rthbertson being sacked from s job with the haulage cornmy owned by John Carroll, Blantyre, near Glasgow, an industrial tribunal was told.
The tribunal upheld his claim that he was dismissed unfairly, and awarded him a total of £3,380. They were told that Mr Carroll was only prepared to pay an allowance for two overnight stops, although his transport manager, Mr Hastie, allowed three nights.
Mr Cuthbertson said it was not possible "without contravening the regulations regarding driving time". The tribunal agreed, and pointed out that Mr Carroll had accepted the driver's reason "without demur at the time".
Another reason for his being sacked, the transport company said, was because he threatened violence to Mr Hastie. The tribunal was told this happened after Mr Hastie refused to believe that Mr Cuthbertson had attempted to deliver some furniture to a house in October last year.
Mr Hastie said his disbelief was based on the fact that no card had been left at the house to say he had called. It was alleged that Mr Cuthbertson leaned through the window of Mr Hastie's office, made abusive remarks and threatened to punch him.
But the tribunal believed Mr Cuthbertson's version that, although there was a heated argument, he had not threatened violence.