Dismissal followed several warnings, says employer

Press, 19 May 1984, Page 6

Dismissal followed several warnings, says employer

A woman was warned about her “slow work and day-dreaming” several times before she was finally dEmissed from El Rancho Toro, Ltd, a chicken processing factory, the Arbitration Court heard yesterday. The Food Processing Union E claiming that Neroli Ann Newell was unjustifiably dEmissed from the plant in August, last year, and it E seeking 53349 in lost wages. It is also claiming $4OOO compensation for victimEation and unjustified dEmissal, although it does not seek the reinstatement of Miss

Newell. She has since found employment with P.D.L., Ltd. During the second day of i the hearing yesterday, the employer, Mr Michael Toro, tola the Court that Miss Newell's work had not been up to standard and that she would often stand day- ; dreaming for up to three t minutes at one time. When ■ she was hired, about four i months before her disnust sal, she gutted chickens. ) However, she "could not ) handle that” and was trans- - ferred to plucking the birds, 1 he said. Another employee had to 5 help Miss Newell to “push” 5 her along. Mr Toro said he

had aEo received complainE from other staff members about her being "too darned slow." Mr Toro's advocate. Mr A. J. Davis, asked him if he was concerned about firing people. He replied: “I would be too far in the boondocks not to. but I sure as hell would not have someone who E a parasite on the other people working for

To the union advocate, Mr A. Lea, Mr Toro said there could be no other alternative to dismissal. In his mind he had given her enough warnings. He also told Mr Lea that he was not aware of the recommended

Erocedure for dismissals, ut since Miss Newell had been fired everything was recorded in a diary. A union delegate was not present when Miss Newell was given a "formar warning. A previous employee. Mr Phillip Thomson, told the Court that he thought Miss Newell was a “pretty good worker.” He saia it was not unusual for Mr Toro to lose his temper once a day and he was always telling sEff to work faster. “It was push, push, go." he said. After written submissions by the two advocates had been made, the Court would reserve iE decEion, said the Chief Judge, Judge Horn. The other two members of the hearing panel were Messrs D. Jacobs and T. R Weir.