GATE GOURMET – 37 claims dismissed

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THE Reading Employment Tribunal yesterday reported that as a result of its May 18th hearing it had struck out and dismissed 37 claims for unfair dismissal by sacked Gate Gourmet workers.

The Tribunal chairman Mrs J Hill, who had heard the submissions on May 18th sitting alone conceded that the striking out of the 37 claims was ‘draconian’.

Clause 8.7 of the judgement says: ‘The chairman noted that to strike out claims is a draconian action, but given the Tribunal’s findings that what was taking place within the canteen and thereafter was unofficial industrial action, the chairman is of the view that none of the claimants whose claim has been struck out has the right to bring a claim of unfair dismissal.’

Four claims were permitted to continue.

Two of them had been trade union officials.

One was Sarit Singh Sandhu, the former Vice Chairman of the JCC at Gate Gourmet.

The Tribunal noted: ‘His claim is sufficiently similar to that of Mr S Dhillon who was the convenor for the union that the claim should be allowed to proceed in order that all the additional information that relates to the trade union activity on 10 August be considered.’

The other was Mr Harbinder Singh.

The judgement states: ‘Mr Singh was a shop steward for the T&G. Because of his trade union activity and involvement, his case has enough factors that are different from the main claims to justify the matter being heard by the Tribunal. The claim should be linked to Mr Dhillon and Mr Sandhu for consideration.’

Many of the sacked workers are very angry at the way that Sandhu and Dhillon have conducted themselves.

Both campaigned to get every sacked worker to sign the TGWU’s compromise agreement with Gate Gourmet. This basically gave away all legal rights in return for a pittance of compensation for the over 600 sacked workers.