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Bin Lorry driver to appeal ban
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A Glasgow bin lorry driver is appealing his sacking. He was fired by Glasgow City Council, after a picture of him using his phone at the wheel appeared in newspapers.
The driver who has been working with the local authority for more than 20 years was photographed on his phone back in August.
Trade Union convenor Chris Mitchell said that drivers felt they were being dismissed “for the least wee thing”.
And one city HGV driver, who asked not want to be named, said that the job has increased his stress levels.
He said: “Our members are angry that one of their own was let go because of pictures that appeared in a newspaper.
This union guy reminds me of the former head of PFA guy Gordon Taylor who use to never think football players ever did anything wrong and were always the victims.
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By *agatoXXXMan 6 weeks ago
Gone and completely forgotten. |
Glasgow knows better than anywhere how a bin lorry can be a killing machine. It's coming up on 10 years since 6 people lost their lives when a driver took ill and lost control in the city centre. The driver back then concealed his health issues, knowing the risks, and this latest guy also knew the risks. Thankfully, he won't be behind the wheel to put anyone else at risk for a while. |
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Trial by media is unfair. It would be more reasonable to issue a written warning, after a fixed penalty, or similar from relevant authorities. We do need to stop letting the media have undue influence on society and individual's, without having them control as much as they do, of public affairs |
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"Glasgow knows better than anywhere how a bin lorry can be a killing machine. It's coming up on 10 years since 6 people lost their lives when a driver took ill and lost control in the city centre. The driver back then concealed his health issues, knowing the risks, and this latest guy also knew the risks. Thankfully, he won't be behind the wheel to put anyone else at risk for a while."
Exactly, I was going to mention that incident.
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"Trial by media is unfair. It would be more reasonable to issue a written warning, after a fixed penalty, or similar from relevant authorities. We do need to stop letting the media have undue influence on society and individual's, without having them control as much as they do, of public affairs "
Or maybe we should wait until they've killed someone. |
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If it’s company policy, which it should be, then it doesn’t care if it’s the media or Joe Public sending a pic to his bosses, then he should know the consequences…. It would be an hard one to defend… the voice of experience |
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By *agatoXXXMan 6 weeks ago
Gone and completely forgotten. |
"If it’s company policy, which it should be, then it doesn’t care if it’s the media or Joe Public sending a pic to his bosses, then he should know the consequences…. It would be an hard one to defend… the voice of experience "
It's already against the law. |
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"If it’s company policy, which it should be, then it doesn’t care if it’s the media or Joe Public sending a pic to his bosses, then he should know the consequences…. It would be an hard one to defend… the voice of experience "
Using a mobile phone behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is illegal anyway, so it really doesn't matter about the contract of employment or Joe Public's opinion or the media. It's illegal and that should be enough. |
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"If it’s company policy, which it should be, then it doesn’t care if it’s the media or Joe Public sending a pic to his bosses, then he should know the consequences…. It would be an hard one to defend… the voice of experience
Using a mobile phone behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is illegal anyway, so it really doesn't matter about the contract of employment or Joe Public's opinion or the media. It's illegal and that should be enough. "
Totally agree, I was looking at it from a union reps perspective… even if they are as guilty af, u still have to look at any way to represent the person |
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Zero sympathy. I'd rather every idiot who uses their phone while driving gets fired than one more person die because of it.
Unions would have a lot more respect if they didn't so often stand up for clearly wrong stuff like this.
Mr |
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"Zero sympathy. I'd rather every idiot who uses their phone while driving gets fired than one more person die because of it.
Unions would have a lot more respect if they didn't so often stand up for clearly wrong stuff like this.
Mr"
The usually get paid a lot for defending the indefensible. |
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"If it’s company policy, which it should be, then it doesn’t care if it’s the media or Joe Public sending a pic to his bosses, then he should know the consequences…. It would be an hard one to defend… the voice of experience
Using a mobile phone behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is illegal anyway, so it really doesn't matter about the contract of employment or Joe Public's opinion or the media. It's illegal and that should be enough.
Totally agree, I was looking at it from a union reps perspective… even if they are as guilty af, u still have to look at any way to represent the person "
Some members can't accept the reality of what's coming so yes being there throughout is part of the reps role, equally that conversation where you have to lay it all out that they are going to lose their job whilst not the easiest part of it is essential where it applies..
Not looked at the issue or what the terms and conditions are but it might be the case that he's put the appeal in as he might under his terms and conditions remain on full pay pending that..
Whatever the details he's toast and rightly so .. |
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"A Glasgow bin lorry driver is appealing his sacking. He was fired by Glasgow City Council, after a picture of him using his phone at the wheel appeared in newspapers.
The driver who has been working with the local authority for more than 20 years was photographed on his phone back in August.
Trade Union convenor Chris Mitchell said that drivers felt they were being dismissed “for the least wee thing”.
And one city HGV driver, who asked not want to be named, said that the job has increased his stress levels.
He said: “Our members are angry that one of their own was let go because of pictures that appeared in a newspaper.
This union guy reminds me of the former head of PFA guy Gordon Taylor who use to never think football players ever did anything wrong and were always the victims.
"
I don't know. Gut reaction is.. Fair enough, it's a deadly weapon and you need to be in control of it and we let vehicle offenders literally get away with murder and barely punish them. But equally we are all humans and prone to making mistakes. I believe in second chances. Let him drive but with no mobile phone on him. |
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By *8on33Man 6 weeks ago
winfrith |
"Its probably incumbent of the council upon seeing that pic to dismiss him doesn't matter whether it's in their truck or his own private vehicle.
But it absolutely does matter. "
It does agreed but they obviously had to fire him . |
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I haven’t read the whole story
But I would think there was a process in which he would have been able to challenge this
Perhaps it wasn’t the first thing he did wrong??
I know in our company drivers have been warned about driving issues and given the opportunity to not make any more mistakes
Before they have been sacked |
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I remember the 2014 Bin Lorry Tragedy in Glasgow. 6 dead 15 injured.
That driver had failed to disclose that he blacked out when he was a bus driver and so knew full well he could kill people.
I have ZERO sympathy for those stupid enough to think it will never happen to them. |
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I am not condoning the use of a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel of a vehicle.
I do not know the general outcome for somebody who is caught doing so. If it is a loss of your driving license then i can see why he would lose his job as a bin lorry driver.
If the general punishment is points and a fine then why was he sacked. I assume there are other job roles appart from the driver. If he was not able to do the other roles then he is not able to do the work and therefore unemployable for that firm.
As i say, i'm not condoning his actions but to me it opens many other questions  |
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And so he should driving while using a phone in any way should be a 2 year driving ban and lifetime removal of a hgv licence and 6 months in prison without a court appearance it ruins peoples life believe you me. |
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"I am not condoning the use of a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel of a vehicle.
I do not know the general outcome for somebody who is caught doing so. If it is a loss of your driving license then i can see why he would lose his job as a bin lorry driver.
If the general punishment is points and a fine then why was he sacked. I assume there are other job roles appart from the driver. If he was not able to do the other roles then he is not able to do the work and therefore unemployable for that firm.
As i say, i'm not condoning his actions but to me it opens many other questions "
These are the penalties for using your mobile while driving.
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Six penalty points on your licence.
A £200 fine.
If you are a novice driver and have passed your test in the last 2 years, you will also lose your licence.
If taken to court, you could face disqualification and a maximum fine of up to £1,000 (£2,500 if you’re driving a lorry or a bus).
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The general punishment is points and a fine but a much bigger fine if driving a lorry ( which he was ) AND you will be banned from driving if you have other points ( I forget how many ) on your license already...
I don't get this ' well find them a different job then'
They broke the contract of the job they applied for and are paid for ..... and didn't give two hoots about the rules or the safety of others when they were breaking the rules and putting others in danger ..... but NOW .... NOW they are found out they want certain rules following .... Totally pig ignorant and selfish. |
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Plus....... None of us know if was a pain in the arse employee e.g. shit at driving the wagon ... had loads of warnings , ran over mrs higginsons cat , always off , lazy bastard, smells ....
Who knows |
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By *agatoXXXMan 6 weeks ago
Gone and completely forgotten. |
"The general punishment is points and a fine but a much bigger fine if driving a lorry ( which he was ) AND you will be banned from driving if you have other points ( I forget how many ) on your license already...
I don't get this ' well find them a different job then'
They broke the contract of the job they applied for and are paid for ..... and didn't give two hoots about the rules or the safety of others when they were breaking the rules and putting others in danger ..... but NOW .... NOW they are found out they want certain rules following .... Totally pig ignorant and selfish. "
☑️ this ⬆️ |
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"Was he driving his company truck or a personal vehicle out of work?
The photo clearly shows him behind the wheel of the lorry. "
In this instance then it’s clearly appropriate for his employer to deal with. That said, if caught in his private vehicle, any driving convictions are likely to affect his driving job anyway.
Just for the record, a photo is not a driving conviction. |
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Well as a lorry driver you are considered a professional driver, the responsibility of being in charge of such a large vehicle comes with being a responsible person,that means NOT using your mobile when driving!! |
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"I am not condoning the use of a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel of a vehicle.
I do not know the general outcome for somebody who is caught doing so. If it is a loss of your driving license then i can see why he would lose his job as a bin lorry driver.
If the general punishment is points and a fine then why was he sacked. I assume there are other job roles appart from the driver. If he was not able to do the other roles then he is not able to do the work and therefore unemployable for that firm.
As i say, i'm not condoning his actions but to me it opens many other questions
These are the penalties for using your mobile while driving.
.
Six penalty points on your licence.
A £200 fine.
If you are a novice driver and have passed your test in the last 2 years, you will also lose your licence.
If taken to court, you could face disqualification and a maximum fine of up to £1,000 (£2,500 if you’re driving a lorry or a bus).
"
Thanks.
I do actually think, without any prior knowledge of this incident, that the process of him being sacked by his council employer was most likely adhered too. Him being photographed using a phone behind the wheel was possibly too much for the council to keep him on, even in another position.
Doesnt excuse his actions and as a poster above mentioned, i agree, it should be a compulsory loss of license for offenders. |
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i havent read the article but my comment is this
was the photo taken of him driving the vehicle at the time of the photo.
if the vehicle was stationary then the driver can check his phone while its being loaded at the rear as hes not moving and parked up.
if the guy was sacked at loading to a degree its unfair.
i still see loads that check there phones while waiting for traffic to move
loads are still using there phones while driving |
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As a lorry driver, it is a stressful job, long hours, also a lot of angry car drivers and pedestrians not giving a thought to the person that is just doing there job. Iv had appalling threats and language thrown at me just for trying to do my job, yes, sometimes it does get to me. But I always stay polite and try to keep a smile on my face.
Do I think he should have been fired for using his phone at the wheel? Yes, it’s disgusting behaviour and in doing so he has endangered lives |
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You can't check your phone if parked and keys in ignition or if you are sttionary you are still breaking the law and fines and points could be issued.
Employment law and legal law are to completely different things. Employment law is based on probability and what is in your contract and HR driving policy or any other company policies.
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By *loydyMan 4 weeks ago
British |
"A Glasgow bin lorry driver is appealing his sacking. He was fired by Glasgow City Council, after a picture of him using his phone at the wheel appeared in newspapers.
The driver who has been working with the local authority for more than 20 years was photographed on his phone back in August.
Trade Union convenor Chris Mitchell said that drivers felt they were being dismissed “for the least wee thing”.
And one city HGV driver, who asked not want to be named, said that the job has increased his stress levels.
He said: “Our members are angry that one of their own was let go because of pictures that appeared in a newspaper.
This union guy reminds me of the former head of PFA guy Gordon Taylor who use to never think football players ever did anything wrong and were always the victims.
"
obviously he's a half wit |
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‘Don’t use phones in a car, don’t browse social media in your car, don’t drive distracted in a vehicle…’
Yet every newish car and truck has a massive screen with all the stuff that’s on your phone on it…indeed you can mirror your actual phone to many of the head units, and we all applaud it.
Not condoning it and I have used mine, not going to lie. As a truck and bus driver it’s very difficult not to for various reasons- mapping being a major one. I wonder how many slating the guy have actually never used one at the wheel in any circumstances (keys in the ignition counts incidentally), or eaten a sandwich, bag of crisps, a hot drink…smoking or vaping? I’d wager none if they’re being truly honest.
I’ve only seen the one pic of the guy and it looks stationary. Not to say it is but that’s what it looks like. Cropped to full effect. There seems to be an army of wee f4nn135 that want to stroke their own egos snapping pics of ‘idiot drivers’ with no context to it. A snap shot is enough.
Where do we stand on coach tours where the driver gives a running commentary? Happens every day on some of the most dangerous roads in the highlands. Squads of them leaving from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness. Many of them just passed their tests (this is a fact not an assumption ). Is that any different? Perfectly legal however - well, until there’s a crash then the driver will lose their licence for ‘not being in control of a moving vehicle’.
Social media and the thirst for outrage has made the World a very binary place to be these days. All very black and white. Snapshots, snippets and no context stories to get the hits and clicks at the expense (sometimes, not always) of every day folks doing their every day things.
As a PS to this, I do recall doing security at a certain well kent music festival in Perth and Kinross some years ago, when in drives the chief constable of the area - on his phone behind the wheel. Brought it to his attention and got a scowl and a brushed off hand gesture for my trouble. Rules for some, eh? |
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"It's the same rules and law for everyone. Why does he think his above it? "
Bin men do they think there rule the roost or they do round may way in West Yorkshire, and they make more mess on the floor than they pick up, i once said to them in back street do you not have a sweeping brush, i got back NO |
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By *YDB75Man 4 weeks ago
East Yorkie |
Im sure the company handbook clearly states about phone use in company vehicles and as he has been caught and photographed he has no defence. If its the council i suggest it would be a gross misconduct charge. He knew the rules he broke them he has nobody to blame |
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