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Working week change leads to Tribunal
Page 12
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A CA R TRANSPORT haulier is opposing compensation claims for unfair dismissal from two drivers who objected to new working hours at the firm's Coventry depot.
Stan Kolton and John Christie are claiming against Stockton-onTees-based Autocarriers at a Birmingham Employment Tribunal.
They allege they were unfairly dismissed after working at the depot for several years. The Tribunal was told that until late last year the Coventry depot worked a seven-day week. However, a change in a contract reduced the working shifts to five days a week —Monday to Friday.
David Jones, one of the firm's directors, told the Tribunal that each driver was written to, explaining the new operations and the company had contacted their union , the T&G. "They all accepted the new arrangement except Mr Kolton and Mr Christie, who said they wanted to work from Wednesday to Sunday and registered grievances to the management about the matter," Jones added.
"They then failed to turn up for work and after being sent letters about their continued absences from work they were dismissed."
Jones said the firm had made every effort to find them different shifts, but they failed to cooperate. "We wanted to keep them on, but it appeared they were more interested in severance packages," he added.
The volume of work at Coventry had not dropped; the only changes were to the working days Kolton and Christie have yet to give evidence: the hearing was adjourned to a date to be fixed.