A former postman has been given his job back after the Industrial Tribunal ruled that he had been sacked unjustly, the General Workers' Union said yesterday.

The tribunal ruled that the postman should be given all his salary and increases since he was sacked on July 31, 2001.

Matthew Camilleri had been suspended from his workplace and later given the boot because of his alleged involvement in an accident in the post office where he worked, the union said.

In March 2002, GWU public sector section secretary Josephine Attard Sultana had referred the case to the minister responsible for industrial relations asking for it to be heard by the tribunal because the company had failed to honour an agreement reached at a meeting chaired by the Industrial Relations Director.

The tribunal's chairman, Joseph P. Bonnici, ruled that Mr Camilleri's termination of employment had not been valid as disciplinary measures taken against him were not in line with the collective agreement.

The disciplinary board had ruled that Mr Camilleri should be suspended for nine months. However, Frank Dimech, who was then Maltapost chairman, had changed the board's decision ruling that the postman should be dismissed, the union said.