Northern Ireland: Sacked airport shop stewards win historic victory in Court of Appeal

international | worker & community struggles and protests | news report Wednesday June 25, 2008 12:56 by Jolly Red Giant - Socialist Party/CWI

The Court of Appeal has issued its judgement on the case of the Belfast airport shop stewards who were sacked in 2002 by airport security firm, ICTS, after they had organised a strike over pay.

The Court of Appeal has issued its judgement on the case of the Belfast airport shop stewards who were sacked in 2002 by airport security firm, ICTS, after they had organised a strike over pay.

The judgement upholds the Fair Employment Tribunal 2007 ruling that ICTS discriminated against the shop stewards on political grounds, sacking them for their trade union and socialist political beliefs. The Court of Appeal judgement reinforces the original decision and means that this case has now set new law which can be used to the benefit of millions of workers throughout Britain.

Employers who sack trade union members may now face claims of political discrimination as well as unfair dismissal claims. Discrimination claims do not have the ceiling on damages that apply to unfair dismissal claims.

The ruling applies to four shop stewards, Gordon McNeill, Madan Gupta and Chris Bowyer of Unite and Malcolm Spencer of GMB.