Management at the Mount Congreve estate in Co Waterford became "obsessed" about the decision of a number of workers to join a trade union, an Employment Appeals Tribunal was told yesterday.
Mr Paul Keane, a landscape gardener at the Kilmeaden estate and a member of SIPTU, claimed he was unfairly dismissed in June as a result of a management vendetta against him.
The estate denied this and said Mr Keane was a poor time-keeper who frequently left his work station without explanation. It said he was finally sacked after being found lying under a tree some distance from where he should have been working.
Eleven members of SIPTU have been on strike at the 500-acre estate, which has 65 full-time staff, since July 12th as a result of Mr Keane's dismissal. The estate is owned by Mr Ambrose Congreve (92). His family built Mount Congreve House nearly 300 years ago. The estate manager, Mr Patrick Coveney, said Mr Keane, who had just over 10 years' service, received written "final" warnings in April 1996, twice in 1997, and in January 1999.
Mr Keane was dismissed following a disciplinary hearing on June 11th last. Mr Keane was invited to bring third party representation to the meeting, and came accompanied by SIPTU official Mr David Lane.
The meeting broke down after Mr Lane said union recognition would be achieved "one way or the other".
The hearing continues today.
