King George Hospital Breakfast man reinstated
Hospital porter at King George hospital in Ilford has been reinstated.
GMB welcome common sense decision to reinstate hospital porter at King George hospital Ilford.
I am delighted at clearing my name and getting my job back says GMB London member.
GMB, the union for hospital workers, welcome the common sense decision to reinstate Aldren Tomlinson to his job as hospital porter at King George Hospital in Ilford.
Aldren Tomlinson, who has worked at King George Hospital for 15 years, was sacked last week without notice for allegedly stealing company property, a £4.00 breakfast following a misunderstanding over payment in the hospital canteen. [see notes to editors for previous press release on Aldren’s sacking]
His dismissal by his employer Sodexo, generated much anger among his colleagues who are GMB members. Hundreds signed petitions and held meetings to discuss strike action and protest to ensure Aldren was reinstated.
The reinstatement came an hour before GMB were to hold a protest outside the hospital and following three days of adverse publicity generated against Sodexo by the sacking. The appeal hearing was scheduled to be heard next week.
Sodexo are a French multinational company that undertake privatised services in the NHS, employing porters, cleaners and domestic hospital staff.
Aldren Tomlinson said
"If it was not for being a member of GMB I would not have got my job back. My friends and work colleagues who were prepared to go on strike are all GMB members. I am delighted at clearing my name and getting my job back.
"Vanessa Feltz interviewed me on Wednesday morning and the support from her and her listeners blew me away. I look forward to going back to work on Monday."
Michael Dooley GMB local representative said:
"GMB welcome the common sense decision to reinstate Aldren to his job as hospital porter.
"Dismissing a worker with a 15 year unblemished service record was not the best move Sodexo made, maybe they thought that it was acceptable but the strength of GMB came down from day one and I imagine they realised that we were not going to leave this member to his fate.
"I thought Sodexo would have let GMB know about taking Aldren back to work but maybe we would have pointed out that it is unfortunate that he was dismissed in the first place."
End
Contact: Michael Dooley on 0777 306 1798; michael.dooley@gmb.org.uk
Alistair Drummond, Sodexo PR Manager, Brand and Communications on 07919 528097; alistair.drummond@sodexo.com
Notes to editors
1) GMB press release 14 February 2017
GMB UNION PROTEST THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY OVER BACON AND EGG SACKING AT KING GEORGE HOSPITAL IN ILFORD
We want to ensure that common sense prevails and Aldren is reinstated says GMB London
GMB, the union for hospital workers, have stepped in on the row over a hospital porter sacked for failing to pay for his £4.00 breakfast.
On Thursday 9th of February hospital porter Aldren Tomlinson who has worked at King George Hospital in Ilford for 15 years was sacked without notice for failing to pay for his breakfast. [see notes to editors for previous GMB press release on Aldren’s sacking]
Sodexo, Aldren’s employer, say the misunderstanding was the porters own fault. This means Aldren will be labelled as a thief and will struggle to find work to support his three children.
GMB are organising a protest and lobby to demand reinstatement of Aldren Tomlinson on Thursday 16 February 2017 between 2.00pm and 4.30pm at the following address:
Outside hospital gates
King George Hospital
Barley Lane
Ilford
IG3 8YB
Michael Dooley GMB local representative said:
"The workforce are extremely angry as what they see is an injustice and GMB are in full agreement. The protest will take place and we are preparing for an industrial action ballot with the full backing of our Sodexo members at the King George Hospital.
"We want to ensure that common sense prevails and Aldren is reinstated with a lesser punishment rather than cause inconvenience to the hospital but it is out of our hands."
2) GMB press release 10 February 2017
Hospital Staff in fury over bacon and egg sacking
Staff at King Georges Hospital, Ilford, have reacted angrily to the instant dismissal of a trusted colleague. Hospital Porter, Aldren Tomlinson, was told his 15 years loyal service was terminated following a misunderstanding over a £4.00 breakfast.
Local man Mr Tomlinson, a father of three was sacked by Sodexo the facilities company at King George Hospital for theft of company property, the breakfast. Aldren, a man of impeccable character, asked his colleagues in the staff canteen if he could pay for the breakfast later after he discovered he had left his wallet at home. The canteen staff member claims he did not hear Aldren properly.
Michael Dooley GMB local representative said:
"Aldren never tried to hide what he did but it is clear this was a simple misunderstanding for which the company, Sodexo, have not in our view dealt with proportionally. Aldren has a clean work record of 15 years and is now unemployed and branded a thief. It makes my blood boil when I see criminals and repeat shoplifters who do not even get prosecuted and here we have a decent bloke losing his lively hood with little prospects of new employment for a misunderstanding over a four quid breakfast
"Many of his work colleagues are demanding that the union refuse to allow the company to act so unfairly. GMB are meeting with staff to discuss the matter and decide on a course of action. Many staff who know Aldren as an honest man have reacted angrily at the company's decision to dismiss a hardworking honest colleague."
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