UTech employee to be reinstated after Appeals Court ruling

The Appeals Court has restored a ruling by the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) that laboratory technician Carlene Spencer should be reinstated to the University of Technology (UTech).

Spencer was dismissed in 2006 after she was accused by UTech of going on vacation leave without permission.

She claimed she was given oral permission by her supervisor.

The University and Allied Workers’ Union challenged the dismissal and took the issue to the IDT.

In its ruling, the IDT said the firing was unjustified and ordered that Spencer should be reinstated.

UTech applied to the Supreme Court for an order to quash the IDT's ruling and in 2010 Justice Ingrid Mangatal granted it.

The IDT and the union later appealed the Supreme Court ruling and yesterday the Court of Appeal overturned it, allowing for Spencer to get back her job.

radio@gleanerjm.com