Labour Court upholds Blood Transfusion Service Board appeal over warning to shop steward

In 1994, the Labour Court upheld the Blood Transfusion Service Board’s appeal over a verbal warning issued to shop steward Mr Walsh, who attended a union-management meeting after being told not to go. The decision was dated 28 April 1994. The Rights Commissioner had recommended withdrawing the warning. The Board argued Mr Walsh had disobeyed a direct instruction, while the Automobile General Engineering and Mechanical Operatives Union said permission to attend the meeting had been unreasonably refused and such leave was established practice. The Court said Mr Walsh had ignored a legitimate instruction. It directed that the warning be removed from his file after 12 months and said the Board and union should agree formal arrangements for union representatives to attend meetings in Dublin.