Paid travel on free bus not wanted by redundancy claimant
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• Atlas Express treated a man "fairly" after the company had moved from Liverpool to Warrington, Liverpool Industrial Tribunal decided last week.
The Tribunal rejected an appeal for redundancy pay by Mr Charles Green, aged 56, of Garston, Liverpool, who formerly worked as a checker and loader with Atlas Express, at its Garston depot, a five-minute walk away from his home.
The company closed the Garston premises in mid-July and moved to a new depot in Warrington.
Mr Green said a notice of their intention was posted in the depot. "It said we were all to transfer to Warrington. At first I accepted the offer, but then I changed my mind. I thought it was too far for me at my age.
"I wrote a letter declining employment and asked for redundancy payment," said Mr Green, who added that his manager sent for him on the depot's last day and he was given his cards, wages and holiday money.
Depot manager, Mr E. Gibson, told the Tribunal that the company had provided a free double-decker bus from Garston to Warrington, plus one hour's pay for travelling time. Seventy of their 80 employees transferred to Warrington, he said.
Mr Green lived near the Garston depot and the bus picked up nearby, said Mr Gibson.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr C. G. B. Blanthorne, dismissed the appeal. "We feel the company acted fairly. He could have joined the free transport at the end of the road in which he lived, and also he could have had pay for travelling time," he said.
"We cannot see any hardship. Mr Green was dismissed because he unreasonably refused the offer of employment."