Construction union UCATT have won over £5,000 at an employment tribunal for an apprentice who was sacked for contacting the union about his employment concerns.

Liam Irving was employed by Gosforth Employment Management Services (GEMS) as an apprentice carpenter. In November 2007 Mr Irving who lives in North Shields contacted UCATT's Northern Region about some employment concerns.

The regional officials then raised the matter with the company's personnel department. The personnel department promised to pass the matter on to the owner of the company Colin Watts. Coincidentally on the same day, Mr Irving was due to be picked up for work by Mr Watts, who failed to arrive. Mr Irving phoned Mr Watts who informed him that he had been sacked for contacting UCATT.

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Despite exhausting the grievance and appeal procedures Mr Watts refused to reinstate Mr Irving. At which point Mr Irving lodged an employment tribunal case for unfair dismissal for trade union activity.

Earlier this spring the employment tribunal found in favour of Mr Irving and awarded him just over £5,000 in compensation.

Mr Irving said: "Had it not been for UCATT's support and legal back up then I would have been snookered and GEMS would have got away with this. I am only a young apprentice who was not earning a lot of money. Had I not joined UCATT I would not have been able to pursue my claim - I could not have afforded to take the case on."

(CD/JM)