A BARMAN sacked for swearing at the president of a Rangers supporters
social club has won his unfair dismissal claim.
A Glasgow industrial tribunal has awarded Mr Leslie Jeffrey #1706
compensation but ruled that he was 10% to blame.
Mr Jeffrey, 38, assistant bar manager at the Rangers FC Supporters
Association Social Club in Edmiston Drive, Glasgow, landed in trouble
when he turned up over an hour late for work on Saturday, October 31,
the day of a home game at Ibrox.
He claimed that he was ''dog tired'' afer a strenuous week and he had
been working under pressure. The club was expecting a busy day.
Club president Mr Wallace Watson had a word with him and Mr Jeffrey
told him to ''Go to f...'' and to ''Get off my f...ing back''. Mr
Jeffrey tried to apologise to the president that night but was told that
a committee meeting was to take place next day to decide what was to
happen.
The committee decided that swearing at the president was the last
straw and that he should be dismissed.
Mr Jeffrey, of 7 Kennedar Drive, Linthouse, Govan, said that he was
''struck dumb''.
Mr Watson said there was acceptable and unacceptable swearing and Mr
Jeffrey cursing him fell into the latter category.
The tribunal heard that bar staff had been issued with warning letters
about stock shortages but Mr Jeffrey had not bothered to open his. The
tribunal said that this showed Mr Jeffrey's attitude towards the
committee.
In their findings, the tribunal said the dismissal was unfair because
of the method adopted.
It said that it was no small organisation, yet it was run by
office-bearers who could make no claims to be schooled in management.
The club had a bar turnover in excess of #600,000 a year and over 3000
members. Its bar could accommodate 400 people.
The tribunal said that Mr Jeffrey was virtually in contempt of his
employers and this situation would not have been allowed to develop in a
more sophisticated organisation.
The tribunal said that it was not saying that his dismissal was not
deserved but that it was unfair procedurally. It found that he was 10%
to blame as the environment which had been allowed to develop could have
encouraged Mr Jeffrey to think he could act as he did.
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