Taxi Driver Online

Pay-out for axed Ayr taxi manager


A TAXI manager whose job was axed after a row with his boss has been awarded over £18,000 compensation.

Alphonsus McEwan, 55, claimed he was fired after an altercation with boss Tommy Withers when he was told not to come back to work.

He subsequently received a letter from Mr Withers advising him he was being made redundant as the business had lost taxi contracts for the next school term.

Mr McEwan complained he had been unfairly dismissed by Ayrways Taxis Ltd.

No one from the company attended the Glasgow employment tribunal hearing earlier this month.

The tribunal heard that Mr McEwan had started working for what became Ayrways Taxis Ltd as a part-time attendant assisting children with special needs travelling to and from school.

Mr McEwan began working full-time after Mr Withers bought six new taxis in addition to the existing four. He became taxi manager, sending taxis out each morning to collect special needs children and take them to school and pick them up and take them home again at the end of the school day.

Mr McEwan said he was told not to come back following the altercation with Mr Withers on June 28 last year.

He was due to return after two weeks’ holiday on July 14, but as he had been told not to do so and had received the letter advising he was to be made redundant, did not return.

He told the tribunal he did not believe he had truly been made redundant.

He was not warned of the possibility of redundancy, was not consulted about the possibility of redundancy or told the basis for selection for redundancy.

In addition, he was not advised of any redeployment opening.

The tribunal ruled he was unfairly dismissed by Ayrways Taxis Ltd.

He was dismissed instantly, verbally and without warning.

The tribunal added: “The respondents showed a breathtaking disregard of employees’ rights, and of the law of the land.”

Employment judge Susan O’Brien ordered Ayrways Taxis Ltd, of Saltpans Road, Ayr, to pay Mr McEwan, of Ayr’s Kyle Street, £18,298 in compensation.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin