Golf club boss finally compensates sacked greenkeeper after GMB campaign
The owner of a Falkirk golf club has finally paid £22,000 to a long-serving greenkeeper sacked for no reason.
Stephen Matthews buckled after a three-year union campaign to secure the compensation after John Easton was unfairly dismissed after working at Braes Golf Centre for almost 20 years.
An employment tribunal had awarded the money to Mr Easton in 2022 and Matthews, a businessman and property developer, has now personally delivered a cheque to Unionline, Mr Easton’s lawyers, as GMB Scotland threatened to escalate its campaign.
The union welcomed payment but Robert Deavy, senior organiser, said Matthews’ conduct and the union’s high-profile response had left his reputation in tatters.
He said: “Mr Matthews treated the rights of our member with absolute disregard and the ruling of the employment tribunal with contempt.
“He has only done the right thing after finally realising we were not going away.
“Our determination to secure every penny owed to our members should be a warning to any employer believing they can treat workers unfairly and ignore employment tribunals with impunity.”
The union’s campaign against Mr Matthews included raising concerns with Braes’ members, leafletting the club’s carpark, highlighting the businessman’s conduct in the media, and securing the backing of Euan Stainbank MP and Michelle Thomson MSP.
The union also picketed tournament days, including the opening day of the season, when Matthews became enraged and called the police, falsely accusing GMB officers of threatening him and his staff. Officers summarily dismissed his claims.
Falkirk Council was also asked to review any involvement with his wider business interests, including approved and pending planning permissions from the businessman, who, according to the draft local plan, now hopes to build houses and a care home on land at Braes.
An employment tribunal in 2022 heard no reason was given for the sacking and ruled Mr Easton, 64, was unfairly dismissed and awarded him £22,000 compensation. The award included a 25% uplift because of Mr Matthews “wholly unreasonable” failure to follow employment law.
The tribunal concluded: “There was a complete failure by the respondent [Mr Matthews] to follow any procedure, let alone a fair procedure, in dismissing the claimant [Mr Easton], who did not contribute to his dismissal at all.”
Matthews had taken over Braes, formerly Polmont Golf Club, in Maddiston, in 2019 when he promised to settle its debts and protect the jobs of staff.
Mr Easton said: “My dismissal was a shock after finding myself effectively locked out of the club where I had worked for almost 20 years.
“I am happy to have received finally received my compensation and grateful for the support of GMB Scotland but it could have been avoided if the club’s owner had acted within the law at the time or, later, accepted the judgement against him.”
ENDS
