Labour Court recommends Dunnes Stores concede worker’s verbal-warning claim

In 2003, the Labour Court recommended that Dunnes Stores concede a worker’s claim over a verbal warning, in a recommendation dated 5 June. The worker, represented by Mandate, challenged the warning issued after a meeting about absenteeism and sick leave. The union argued that the worker had not been told the meeting was disciplinary, had not been offered representation and that the company had not followed its procedures. Dunnes Stores said the meeting was a disciplinary hearing and that force majeure leave was excluded from the absenteeism tally. The company did not attend the hearing or provide a written submission. With no rebuttal to the union’s arguments, the Court recommended concession of the claim.