Deliveryman awarded Lm550 after unfair dismissal

A deliveryman was yesterday awarded Lm550 in compensation after the Industrial Tribunal ruled that the termination of his employment was not satisfactory according to law.

Tribunal chairman Harold Walls heard how in July 1998 Vince Galdes was employed as a deliveryman with Alphonse Farrugia & Sons Limited. His job consisted in delivering drinks to shops in Valletta.

In July 2001, Mr Galdes was fired because the company claimed that drinks had been going missing and that he had manipulated an invoice for his personal gain.

The tribunal was also informed that it was company practice for the drinks to be delivered early in the morning, when the shops were still closed, and left outside the outlets. The drinks were therefore available to the public and could easily be taken by anyone. The tribunal heard that clients reported that drinks were missing both when Mr Galdes was employed and also after his dismissal.

As to the allegation about the invoice, the tribunal said this had not been proven.

The tribunal ruled that Mr Galdes's dismissal did not satisfy the legal requirements and ordered Alphonse Farrugia & Sons Limited to pay him Lm550.

Lawyer Mark Busuttil appeared for Mr Galdes.

Lawyer Anthony Cutajar represented the company.