'Training manager rocks the boat'
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TRAINING manager for the oad Transport Industry raining Board told an indusial tribunal that he had been tcked because a letter he Tote to his boss showed him ) be "rocking the boat."
Mr Gerald Fitzpatrick, 57, of arforth, near Leeds, was Ileging unfair dismissal by le Board. He was area .aining manager for South .orkshire.
The tribunal had been told y Mr James Mitchell, repremting the board, that Mr itzpatrick wrote a letter to le director-general, containig "grave and damaging" [legations about the Board's perations and its personnel. When Mr Fitzpatrick refusd to withdraw what the oard considered were un)unded claims, it had no lternative but to dismiss him. Mr Fitzpatrick told the ibunal: "It is my contention oat I was unfairly dismissed nd that, as a manager in the ystem, I was seen to be Deicing the boat after making protest about my superiors. "Those self-same people hen chose to dismiss me and a close the doors on me as apidly as possible," he said.
In a letter to the direcor-general, Mr T. E. Tindall, vhich was read out at the ribunal, Mr Fitzpatrick reerred to senior staff as "a set If con men and spivs."
He also made allegations oncerning the selection of firms for exemption from paying the training levy.
Mr Fitzpatrick said the circumstances and conditions in which they were expected to manage caused frustration and embarrassment to staff at field level.
"I contend my letter was necessary in the interests of the industry I am proud to serve," he said.
The tribunal was adjourned until December 14.