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Truck driver who refused to make delivery loses claim
Page 14
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The Culina Logistics driver receives no compensation as his claim of unfair dismissal is rejected at Tribunal. Peter Swingler reports.
A STAFFORD truck driver has lost a compensation claim for unfair dismissal after refusing to make an extra delivery because he feared he would exceed 15 hours of driving and face prosecution.
Roger Morris of Glendower Close. Gnosall, Stafford, accused his former employer, Culina Logistics of Market Drayton, of ignoring health and safety issues and putting people's lives at risk for the sake of profit.
Morris made the accusation at Birmingham Employment Tribunal as he sought compensation for unfair dismissal after more than six years as a truck driver with the haulage firm.
The Tribunal heard that after Morris had spent a day making deliveries he was told to make another delivery to his home town of Stafford.
He refused, fearing he would exceed the driving limit and break the law. The firm carried out an investigation into the situation: following a disciplinary and dismissal hearing, Morris was sacked for not complying with a management request.
The firm said the journey from Market Drayton to Stafford was about 20 miles and would not have taken more than 25 minutes. It denied Moms would have exceeded his 15 hours by making the trip.
The firm complained that Morris had not apologised for refusing the management's instruction and had shown no remorse.
Morris said the instruction was unreasonable and he would not have got home until 11pm after returning to base at Market Drayton.
Tribunal chairman John Parkin said the Tribunal's decision was that the firm had responded within the bounds of reasonable behaviour: it rejected Morris's claim for unfair dismissal.
Morris said afterwards that he was disappointed with the decision but now had another job as a truck driver.