$l0,000 claim by mechanic

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 4

$l0,000 claim by mechanic

A motor mechanic claimed $lO,OOO for loss of wages and compensation from his former employer when he brought a case of alleged unjustified dismissal in the Arbitration Court in Christchurch yester-

The mechanic, Mr George Carrol, who now works in a pipe factory, was represented by Miss Kay Stringleman, of the Engineers’ Union.

Mr A. J. Davis represented the respondent company, Canterbury Motors, Ltd.

The Court comprised Judge D. S. Castle and Messrs D. Jacobs and T. Weir. It adjourned until today. Miss Stringleman said that Mr Carrol was told by his employer in December, 1982, that he was to be put

off in March because he was unqualified, was too old to be getting under cars, was hard of hearing, and could not concentrate properly.

When the union made representations on his behalf the employer said that the dismissal was because Mr Carrol was unable to maintain an acceptable level of workmanship, said Miss Stringleman.

Two witnesses for the respondent company, both of whom had managerial control over Mr Carrol, said that his workmanship had not been of an acceptable standard.

Miss Stringleman said that complaints of bad workmanship were not referred to Mr Carrol before he was dismissed, and the dismissal came some time after the original complaints.