Postman sacked for delivering mail ONE MINUTE late after 28 years in the job

A postman who worked at Royal Mail for 28 years has been left ‘bitterly upset’ after he was sacked when he delivered mail one-minute late.

Robert Lockyer, who was based at a delivery office in Ashford, Kent, was accused of gross misconduct last October.

The previous month Mr Lockyer had been sent to take a special delivery item, which was guaranteed to arrive before 1pm, to a bank.

However he claimed that he didn’t sign the item over until 1.01pm because he had to join a queue with other customers, reports KentLive.

Mr Lockyer, who has delivered around 1,500 special delivery items, said his personal delivery assistant data showed he arrived at the bank four minutes before deadline. 

The postman said he is ‘bitterly upset’ at the ‘harsh’ treatment, adding: ‘I can’t believe what has happened to me – all I wanted to do was to do my job.’ 

He has now turned to the Communications Workers’ Union, who are planning to appeal the decision legally on his behalf. 

Mark Baulch, from the CWU, said: ‘This is probably one of the most outrageous dismissals by Royal Mail and Tribunal verdict I’ve ever heard about. 

‘What’s truly infuriating here is that the management were not prepared to accept data from the same PDA clearly proving that Mr Lockyer actually arrived inside this delivery customer’s premises a full four minutes before the deadline. 

‘How on earth our member could be considered to be at fault here is completely beyond me – this is why the culture within the workplace must change.’ 

Mr Lockyer appealed the decision but it was upheld at an employment tribunal where it was said it was ‘clear from the evidence that the claimant was a challenging employee’. Pictured is Ashford delivery office

Delivery office manager John Peter held a formal conduct meeting on October 5 last year and dismissed Mr Lockyer from his job.

An appeal was then upheld by independent casework manager Sue Knight-Smith, who said Mr Lockyer decided ‘to ignore the noon PDA alert and left the delivery until the last moment’. 

An employment tribunal was then held on July 22 where it was said it was ‘clear from the evidence that the claimant was a challenging employee’. 

Mr Lockyer’s unfair dismissal case was then dismissed and he withdrew claims for unpaid wages and redundancy payment.

The Communications Workers’ Union is planning to appeal the decision to fire Mr Lockyer legally and said it was ‘probably one of the most outrageous dismissals’ they’ve ever heard

Mr Lockyer had previously been given warnings about his performance, including one for not securing his vehicle properly.

In August last year he was also given a 24-month suspended dismissal penalty for not obtaining a signature and following ‘sign for’ procedures.

After this Mr Lockyer was told ‘going forward any breach of standards will lead to your dismissal’.