Postie fired over pub row

Apr 28 2006 By Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail

A POSTMAN has been sacked by the Royal Mail after an out-of-hours argument in a pub, it was revealed today.

Brian Sabin, aged 48, was hauled before the boss following a pre-Christmas incident in the Bottle of Sack, in Sutton Coldfield.

The father of three admits using his head to "nudge" a fellow Royal Mail worker away from him, but says he has been the victim of a witch-hunt.

Mr Sabin said nobody was hurt and police were not called. But a Royal Mail spokesman said Mr Sabin was guilty of "inappropriate behaviour" and confirmed he had been dismissed following an appeal.

Mr Sabin, of Newstead Road, Kingstanding, said: "I feel I have been victimised. This was an incident which took place out of hours and away from work premises.

"I was out in the pub and one of the lads I work with was a bit drunk. He came over to me, a few words were said and I nudged him away with my head. He was causing trouble - I told him that we were not at work. It was just six of one and half a dozen of the other.

"He wasn't hurt. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was a complaint to the manager, I was suspended and they told me I was a threat to the workforce. I appealed against the decision, but I lost and was eventually sacked for 'threatening behaviour'."

Mr Sabin, who had worked for the Royal Mail for 15 months, says he now plans to lodge a claim for unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal after his appeal was rejected earlier this month.

"I feel there has been a witch-hunt against me. Now I just want to clear my name."

Royal Mail's Mike Dalton said: "I can confirm that we did dismiss an employee for inappropriate behaviour.

"An appeal was heard and rejected. We have had no official notification of an application for an employment tribunal."

* Have your say on this story at www.icbirmingham.co.uk/mail/news/yoursay