Dismissed Duns postie has union support

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/new ... -1-2646502" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Duns postie, whose contract was not renewed after his initial six month trial period was completed, claims that the real reason he was dismissed was because he became the Communication Workers Union (CWU) representative.

Former policeman turned postie, Tony Garrick has the full support of the union who say they are in no doubt that the only reason Royal Mail terminated his employment was because he fought to get better working conditions for his fellow employees.

“The only reason he was dismissed was because he became a union rep and he has been discriminated against because of it,” said Willie Marshall, Communication Workers Union Scotland No. 2 branch secretary.

“We are taking this to the highest level with Royal Mail in London. I have been with the union since the 1970s and I’ve never seen anyone treated like this before.”

Tony Garrick’s employment with Royal Mail was terminated soon after he became the union representative at the Duns depot and on Saturday, November 24, the Communication Workers Union are planning a demonstration outside the depot in protest at his treatment and the alleged working conditions of other posties.

“We will be there on Saturday morning at 5.45am,” confirmed Willie Marshall.

Tony started the job with the Royal Mail at the Duns delivery depot after retiring as a police officer.

He became the Communication Workers Union representative at the workplace because of his concern about working conditions.

“I have been sacked for challenging to get better conditions for employees,” said Tony.

“This is discrimination of a union representative.”

The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 forbids employers refusing to employ someone or treating them unfairly because of trade union membership or participation in trade union activities,

The first step is to contact the union, which Tony has done, and they can take up the complaint through Royal Mail’s internal grievance procedure.

If, having done this and Tony is still dissatisfied with the outcome, he could go on to seek legal help and file a complaint with an Employment Tribunal within three months of the act complained of.

An employment tribunal may award compensation and/or order an employer to stop the discriminatory treatment if they find the case proved.

When asked about the case Royal Mail spokeswoman Felicity MacFarlane said: “We cannot comment on individual cases but Royal Mail can confirm that a postman in the Duns delivery office has been dismissed.

“In line with our normal procedures the person concerned is entitled to appeal the decision.”

Since Tony was sacked, an issue with keys to the Duns premises has arisen.

Tony claims that despite handing in the keys before he left he has been warned that he faces being arrested if they are not returned, and as he does not have them he can’t hand them back.

Although Royal Mail could not confirm the situation, or whether a complaint had been made to Lothian & Borders Police about the alleged theft of keys, Ms MacFarlane said that it is normal in these cases to ask former employees to return business keys.

[fishtank]

Tony was at the rep's forum in Edinburgh and his situation was discussed with Dave and the rest of the top table.
Without going into details since it's an ongoing case,it is in my opinion one of the most blatant breaches of the TULR Act i have ever came across.
Duns is an office where managers have basically had their own way for years,Tony threatened their comfy lifestyle....you figure it out.

[hans solo]

are we all scared to walkout nowadays
20 yrs ago that would have brought the whole of rm out

[POSTMAN]

He's on here and posted about this,before he got the sack.
My reply to him was...

Now rightly or wrongly,coming into the job 'on trial' then making some noise by being the rep is (because the business is shite and a lot of managers are scum) asking for trouble.

Such a f***ing shite firm.