£4,000 award to driver
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STOREMAN-driver Michael McKernan lost his job when he was accused of "fiddling" the petrol money. Despite his strong denial of the accusation, his employers acted quickly.
Now an industrial tribunal has ruled that Mr McKernan was unfairly dismissed and awarded him nearly £4,000 in compensation. McKernan had been with Anderson and Finch, engineers, Clydebank, for three years when he was fired.
The tribunal heard how Mr McKernan had been allowed the use of a company van after work. He was also allowed to draw money from the firm for petrol, provided it was approved by the company first.
The tribunal chairman explained in his judgment: "Mr Anderson, the managing director, observed that Mr McKernan had signed for £5 worth of petrol on December 9, 1983. He asked Miss Taylor, a production programmer, if the £5 had been authorised.
"She told him that no such authority had been given to her. Mr Anderson said he spoke to Mr McKernan regarding the matter and he denied having signed for five gallons of petrol.
"Mr Anderson went back to the garage later to check that he had not made a mistake and on this occasion noticed that Mr McKernan had also signed for petrol in December 11.
"He then interview Mr McKernan again and Mr McKernan agreed that he had drawn petrol on the two occasions in question. Mr Anderson was very cross and accused Mr McKarnon of 'fiddling' which he later denied."