Labour Court rejects union appeal over Bray council worker’s missing spectacles

The Labour Court disallowed the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union’s appeal over a Bray Urban District Council worker’s missing spectacles and affirmed the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation. The decision was signed on 24 October 2001. The union sought compensation after the worker said he had left his spectacles in the refuse truck where he worked. They were missing when he returned after illness and a four-week strike. The council said enquiries found no spectacles in the truck or at the hire company, its insurer said the policy did not cover the loss, and it did not reimburse staff for lost personal belongings. The Rights Commissioner had found the loss was the worker’s responsibility and recommended that he accept the council’s position. The Labour Court agreed with that recommendation.