Sacking of driver right: authority

A bus driver, who was sacked after complaints including that he refused to let a passenger use the toilet, was justifiably dismissed, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled.

Roger Heaslip was employed as a driver by Hayward Coachlines in November 2012 and by the beginning of March 2013 was operating the company’s Nakedbus northern service.

However, only days later he found his name had been taken off the roster and he was asked to attend a disciplinary meeting on March 8.

Company bosses presented Mr Heaslip with ‘‘a parade of very serious complaints about inappropriate treatment of passengers and dangerous and/or reckless driving of one of their vehicles’’ the authority decision said.

It asked for the driver’s comments on five complaints emailed in by the public, including one which alleged he had refused to allow a young woman to go to the toilet, resulting in her having to urinate on the bus.

Hayward Coachlines told the authority that Mr Heaslip had admitted the wrongdoing at the disciplinary meeting and blamed his behaviour on ‘‘personal issues’’.

At the authority hearing in December, Mr Heaslip denied he had acknowledged his errors.

But authority member James Crichton said his evidence was ‘‘inconsistent’’ and ruled in favour of the employer.