Casino staff, offered €20 when let go, leave table with €35,000

Two workers at a casino were offered just €10 in compensation when they were dismissed from their jobs after the business was taken over by a new owner.

Croupiers (the person in charge of a gaming table) Veselka Vicheva and Marek Mikes had worked at Castlebar Card Club in Co Mayo for more than a year when they were called to a staff meeting in July, 2011.

They both told the Employment Appeals Tribunal that they were advised by a woman called Ava that she was the new owner of the business and that their services were no longer required.

She offered them €10 in compensation, which they refused.

The two croupiers had brought their action for unfair dismissal to the tribunal against Martin Silke, Castlebar Card Club and Xue Yun Wu, Castlebar Card Club.

The croupiers were represented by their local county councillor Michael Kilgannon, but there was no appearance or representation by their former employers at the hearing.

The tribunal said that, having heard the uncontested evidence of Ms Vicheva and Mr Mikes, it had decided that their claim that they were unfairly dismissed succeeded.

It awarded Ms Vicheva €15,000 and Mr Mikes €20,000.

Mr Kilgannon said that the way in which the two employees had been treated was indicative of the way in which some workers were being treated by employers in the current economic climate.

“I think it was disgraceful the way these people were treated and typical of the way workers are being treated in the economy. Too many employers regard such people as disposable commodities.

“This is not the worst case that I have come across, but it is well up there. They had come to me as a county councillor to help them and I was glad to help.