Isle Of Wight Plumber Wins £25k After Bosses Branded Him ‘Half-Dead Dave’

Thursday, 3 February 2022 17:15

By Oliver Dyer @olidyer

An Isle of Wight plumber - branded ‘Half-Dead Dave’ by his bosses because of his age - has won £25,000 in compensation.

David Robson, who was 69 at the time, worked for Cowes' Clarke’s Mechanicals Limited as a plumber and gas fitter.

In 2020, Mr Robson was sacked with no warning and no consultation and with no issues with his work.

For many years, Mr Robson, now 71, had been referred to by his manager and others as ‘Half-Dead Dave’ because of his age, a tribunal heard.

Following a three-day hearing in Bristol, Mr Robson won his claims of age discrimination and unfair dismissal.

The tribunal awarded Mr Robson just under £25,000 in compensation, which included £13,000 injury to feelings.

Mr Robson said:

“I was obviously very disappointed to have been dismissed after working at Clarkes for years.

"I’m delighted to have received this compensation and am very grateful to GMB and their team of solicitors.

"It was wrong of the company to get rid of me because of my age and I’m glad I was able to seek justice.”

GMB Union helped Mr Robson to bring Employment Tribunal proceedings against the company.

Adrian Baker, GMB Regional Organiser, said:

“This is a shocking case where the employer failed to comply with basic employment law standards, even giving him a cruel nickname.

“No procedure was followed and he was discriminated against because of his age.

“To make matters worse, after dismissing him, the company then advertised jobs which Mr Robson was qualified to do.

“UK Employment law is there for us all to respect and Isle of Wight employers are no exception.”

Isle of Wight Radio has approached Clarke’s Mechanicals Limited for a comment.

Recently Played

Platform One Announces Winner Of 2024 Wight Noize Competition
The winner of this year's Wight Noize competition has been announced.
Royal Duke To Visit As Newport Minster Reopens
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh will visit to celebrate the re-opening of Newport Minster after a major refurbishment.
Isle Of Wight Council To Support 'No Mow May' 2024
The Isle of Wight Council is supporting the national ‘No Mow May’ campaign at several of its sites.
English Coastal Path Complication Amid Osborne House Queen Victoria Collection Fears
A national coastal path initiative could be scuppered by the risk it poses to a timeless collection of memorabilia at East Cowes' Osborne House.