Tribunal rebukes BL over men sleeping at work

From Our Correspondent Birmingham

The management of the British Leyland factory where men were said to have slept on the night shift over many years, was given a public reprimand yesterday. An industrial tribunal rejected claims of unfair dismissal from two foreman who were found in charge of men sleeping in the paint shop at the factory, the Rover works, Solihull, West Midlands.

But the panel of three men was unanimous in its condemnation of the management. Mr Richard Smith, senior chairman of Birmingham Industrial Tribunals, said: "The tribunal members are concerned that something should be said to the effect that the management was not doing its job properly."

The tribunal rejected claims of unfair dismissal from Mr John Farrell, an employee for 28 years, of Berkeley Road, Shirley, Solihull, and Mr James Parker of Willaston Road, Sheldon, Birmingham, who had 19 years' service.

DAILY MIRROR

Tribunal chairman Richard Smith said senior management at Rover’s Solihull factory “ were not doing their job properly… Perhaps some members did not know men were sleeping – but they jolly well should have known .”