The Workplace Relations Commission awarded a cabin steward €6,000 after finding his dismissal by an airline unfair. Adjudication officer Kevin Baneham’s decision was dated 4 November 2016.
The airline said it dismissed the worker for refusing an instruction to perform an additional flight duty, which it treated as gross misconduct. The cabin steward argued that the duty had been a request and challenged the investigation, disciplinary process and decision to dismiss him.
The WRC found the additional duty was an instruction and that the disciplinary process was robust. But on appeal, the worker was not given a chance to respond to the airline’s explanations about two other incidents involving supervisors who had refused additional duties. The WRC found those incidents might have affected the gross-misconduct finding or the choice of dismissal as a sanction.
In awarding €6,000, the WRC took account of the worker’s role in the events and his efforts to develop his career.