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FIDDAMAN View profile
More options Jun 3 2001, 9:17 am
Newsgroups: uk.media.newspapers
From: "BOB FIDDAMAN"
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 14:06:41 +0100
Local: Sun, Jun 3 2001 9:06 am
Subject: Sunday Mercury
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Anyone on here know of anyone else of Land Rover's Long Term Absence
Register then could they please get in touch with me via email.
The following are two stories from the Sunday Mercury. The first was in the
26/05 edition and the second in this Sunday's edition.
FORGOTTEN MAN
I've been frozen out of work for two years because of disability, says Bob
Meet Bob Fiddaman - Land Rover's forgotten man.
For 12 years the Birmingham father of three has been employed by the
Solihull motor giant.
But for the past two years Bob, a 36 year old production line worker, has
not done a single hour's work.
Land Rover claim they cannot find him an alternative job after he was struck
down by osteoarthritis.
Now Bob is taking the Company to industrial tribunal - claiming he has been
frozen out because of his disability.
Bob, from Yardley, joined Land Rover as a £14,5000 a year fitter and
assembler on the Defender line in 1989.
In 1996 he was signed off sick by his doctor and was diagnosed as suffering
from osteoarthritis in both hips. He was placed on the Company's Long Term
Absence Register but was declared fit for non manual work in 1999.
But for the past two years, his Land Rover bosses have claimed they cannot
find him a new role.
Crazy Situation
Frustrated Bob has even tried to take voluntary redundancy or early
retirement on ill health grounds - but the applications have been refused.
"This is an absolutely crazy situation," he said. "I am ready and willing to
work yet Land Rover are forcing me to stay at home."
"Although I am not able to do heavy manual work, I would be happy to do
office work or other lighter duties."
"But they just keep telling me they don't have a non manual job for me."
"My family has really suffered. We've had to survive on my wife Christine's
part-time wages because my sick pay stopped in 1998. The only money I
receive is a tiny amount of Incapacity Benefit.
"Christine has had a nervous breakdown and my doctor diagnosed me as
depressed. I was so down I thought about suicide."
The tribunal hearing is due to take place in January next year.
"My employment law adviser has tried everything to get me back to work but
with no joy," he said. "The Company just says there are no vacancies for me.
"If I were to just quit, I would get nothing. But it isn't a question of
money - it's about justice. I can't get on with my life until this is
resolved."
A Land Rover spokesman said: "We are still in discussion with Mr Fiddaman.
At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further.
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LEFT TO ROT BY LAND ROVER
Car giant leaves 20 employees in limbo.
Midland giant Land Rover was last night accused of freezing out employees
ready to return to work after being off sick.
Solihull Metropolitan Borough councillor John Bramham made the claim after
reading the Sunday Mercury's story last week about Bob Fiddaman - whom we
dubbed 'Land Rovers Forgotten Man'.
We revealed how Mr Fiddaman had not done a single hours work for two years
because the Company claimed it could not find him an alternative job after
he was struck down with osteoarthritis.
Instead, Mr Fiddaman remains on the Company's Long Term Absence Register -
despite being declared fit for non-manual work.
He does not receive any money from Land Rover because his sick pay has run
out and he now relies on Incapacity Benefit. He is now taking the Company to
tribunal claiming discrimination.
Now another employee on the Long Term Absence Register has come forward,
claiming that he has been trying to get back to work at Land Rover for FIVE
years.
David Busst, 49, has been employed by the Solihull motor giant for 12 years.
He worked as a £12,000-a-year semi-skilled fitter on the Discovery line
until 1992 when he was struck down with balance problems.
He was signed off sick by his doctor and it was later discovered Mr Busst
had suffered two minor strokes. He was also diagnosed with arthritis of the
back and knees.
Mr Busst, who lives with his partner just a short distance from the Land
Rover plant, says since 1996 he has felt fit enough for non manual work but
Company bosses claim that cannot find him another role.
Like Mr Fiddaman, he relies on Incapacity Benefit because he no longer
receives money from Land Rover. He has also been refused voluntary
redundancy.
Last night Coun Bramham, whose ward includes the Land Rover plant, accused
the Company of freezing out employees like Mr Busst and Mr Fiddaman.
And he said a Company insider had told him that there had been more than 20
employees on the Long Term Absence Register at one point.
"Land Rover seems to have this register to pigeon-hole people into once
their sick pay has run out." he said.
"It's a bit of a cop-out really because it seems the Company does not have
to take employees back or give them redundancy.
"In Mr Busst's case, he is perfectly capable of doing a job for the Company,
but it appears that he will continue to rot in the same position unless he
is prepared to forfeit all his rights by resigning. Quite a few other people
have been, and still are, in a very similar situation. They are just in
limbo and I don't think it's fair."
BOB FIDDAMAN UK
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