Apple Ireland worker wins unfair dismissal ruling in explosives case

Posted:
in AAPL Investors edited August 2021
An Apple employee in Cork, Ireland, has been awarded $5,275 for being unfairly dismissed, after traces of explosives were found in his bag.

Apple Cork
Apple Cork


Apple has maintained a large operation in Cork, Ireland, for 40 years, and it includes technical support advisors. Now one of those, Stanislaw Ivanov, has been awarded damages by Ireland's Labor Court for unfair dismissal, which Apple has not contested.

According to The Irish Examiner, however, Ivanov wants to clear his name over an accusation that he had traces of Tetryl explosive on him.

On December 7, 2018, he refused Apple security permission to search his bag on entering a company Christmas party at a local football stadium. Then on December 13, 2018, swab tests of his workstation at Apple, and of the power switch on his computer, were positive for explosives.

Prior to the Labor Court, Ireland's Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) had ruled in favor of Ivanov. Its ruling said that Apple had no authority to search his bag, and so should have called the police.

The WRC also called it "incredible" that solely the workstation and computer had the traces of explosive substances, given how Ivanov could not have solely touched those.

Ivanov himself appealed against the WRC ruling, as he wanted to contest how he was being seen as "some type of criminal." He said he wants to clear his reputation, especially as his social circle "almost disappeared" following his dismissal from Apple.

Originally, Ivanov had wanted to be reinstated by Apple. He now agrees that cannot happen.

"Essentially the relationship and bond of trust is irrevocably broken," said Darragh Whooley, Apple's employee relations manager. Apple did not contest the ruling of unfair dismissal, and Whooley said the company was happy to pay the compensation.

Overall, the Labor Court sided with Ivanov, and as well as the unfair dismissal damages, ruled that there should be an entirely new hearing on the case. Deputy chair Tom Geraghty reportedly criticized both Ivanov and Apple for the lack of information in their submissions to the court.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 13
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    What a strange story.  I wonder what explosive traces would be picked up by a swab test, and why they were even testing for that.  Is it routine?
    Alex_V
  • Reply 2 of 13
    thrangthrang Posts: 1,008member
    It's been common practice at least in the US (at least in metro NY and NJ,) to have to show the contents of your bag prior to entering an arena or stadium, given the number of ill-minded people out there (and pass through metal detectors, at least at Madison Square Garden and Prudential Center). This is general knowledge.

    Why resist it? There is no harm to you, and in fact, the collective action is making a safer environment.


    edited August 2021 pulseimageskillroy
  • Reply 3 of 13
    llamallama Posts: 102member
    What kind of bag does an Irish guy take to a Christmas party?  I've been to plenty of large American corporate Christmas parties and I don't recall a single instance of a guy bringing a bag of any kind.  I am surprised the WRC would say Apple didn't have any authority to search the bag as noted above many stadiums require this and I would be surprised that the stadium wouldn't have similar rules when rented out for a private event.
    pulseimageskillroy
  • Reply 4 of 13
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    llama said:
    What kind of bag does an Irish guy take to a Christmas party?  I've been to plenty of large American corporate Christmas parties and I don't recall a single instance of a guy bringing a bag of any kind.  I am surprised the WRC would say Apple didn't have any authority to search the bag as noted above many stadiums require this and I would be surprised that the stadium wouldn't have similar rules when rented out for a private event.
    I would image it's because it's a work event, and the employer has no ordinary justification for infringing the employee's privacy by searching the bag.  Though as you say I'm not really sure why he would be bringing a bag anyway; it seems like there probably could have been a better resolution to that problem on both sides.
  • Reply 5 of 13
    An Apple employee in Cork, Ireland, has been awarded $5,275 for being unfairly dismissed, after traces of explosives were found in his bag.

    Apple Cork
    Apple Cork


    Apple has maintained a large operation in Cork, Ireland, for 40 years, and it includes technical support advisors. Now one of those, Stanislaw Ivanov, has been awarded damages by Ireland's Labor Court for unfair dismissal, which Apple has not contested.

    According to The Irish Examiner, however, Ivanov wants to clear his name over an accusation that he had traces of Tetryl explosive on him.

    On December 7, 2018, he refused Apple security permission to search his bag on entering a company Christmas party at a local football stadium. Then on December 13, 2018, swab tests of his workstation at Apple, and of the power switch on his computer, were positive for explosives.

    Prior to the Labor Court, Ireland's Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) had ruled in favor of Ivanov. Its ruling said that Apple had no authority to search his bag, and so should have called the police.

    The WRC also called it "incredible" that solely the workstation and computer had the traces of explosive substances, given how Ivanov could not have solely touched those.

    Ivanov himself appealed against the WRC ruling, as he wanted to contest how he was being seen as "some type of criminal." He said he wants to clear his reputation, especially as his social circle "almost disappeared" following his dismissal from Apple.

    Originally, Ivanov had wanted to be reinstated by Apple. He now agrees that cannot happen.

    "Essentially the relationship and bond of trust is irrevocably broken," said Darragh Whooley, Apple's employee relations manager. Apple did not contest the ruling of unfair dismissal, and Whooley said the company was happy to pay the compensation.

    Overall, the Labor Court sided with Ivanov, and as well as the unfair dismissal damages, ruled that there should be an entirely new hearing on the case. Deputy chair Tom Geraghty reportedly criticized both Ivanov and Apple for the lack of information in their submissions to the court.

    Read on AppleInsider
    There is also an easy answer to this swab result.   Marzipan (made with almonds) can give off traces that could be confused with explosives, this happens in Spain and other countries where marzipan and or almond candies are confused at airport scanners and swaps!!!!!!!!
    kurai_kagekillroylam92103elijahglibertyforall
  • Reply 6 of 13
    croprcropr Posts: 1,124member
    thrang said:
    It's been common practice at least in the US (at least in metro NY and NJ,) to have to show the contents of your bag prior to entering an arena or stadium, given the number of ill-minded people out there (and pass through metal detectors, at least at Madison Square Garden and Prudential Center). This is general knowledge.

    Why resist it? There is no harm to you, and in fact, the collective action is making a safer environment.


    This is not the US but Ireland and this is a work related issue. According to the working laws in the EU, employers have not the authority to search the personal items of employees, unless it is explicitly stated in the work regulations how and when this can happen .    This is general knowledge.

    Generally speaking, only law enforcement services (police, customs, airport security, ...) have the authority to search the personal items of people. 

    Apple is so concerned about the privacy of people, but when its employees are involved, that concept is not that important anymore.  

    muthuk_vanalingamlam92103elijahg
  • Reply 7 of 13
    mknelsonmknelson Posts: 1,125member
    AppleUserforyears said:There is also an easy answer to this swab result.   Marzipan (made with almonds) can give off traces that could be confused with explosives, this happens in Spain and other countries where marzipan and or almond candies are confused at airport scanners and swaps!!!!!!!!
    I can't find any corroboration for that. Several people joking that Marzipan bricks visibly resemble Semtex (plastic explosives) and plastic explosives often emit an almond smell.

    That would not confuse a swab.

    More to the point - the evidence is circumstantial at best. He didn't test positive, his workspace did. The traces could have other sources unrelated to him.
  • Reply 8 of 13
    Just wait until Apple finds traces of illegal photos on your iPhone and turns you in to law enforcement.
    AirDrop will get someone arrested.
    Convince me I'm wrong.
    (The Sun had a story today about people putting porn photos on people's phones using AirDrop).
    muthuk_vanalingamelijahg
  • Reply 9 of 13
    thrangthrang Posts: 1,008member
    cropr said:
    thrang said:
    It's been common practice at least in the US (at least in metro NY and NJ,) to have to show the contents of your bag prior to entering an arena or stadium, given the number of ill-minded people out there (and pass through metal detectors, at least at Madison Square Garden and Prudential Center). This is general knowledge.

    Why resist it? There is no harm to you, and in fact, the collective action is making a safer environment.


    This is not the US but Ireland and this is a work related issue. According to the working laws in the EU, employers have not the authority to search the personal items of employees, unless it is explicitly stated in the work regulations how and when this can happen .    This is general knowledge.

    Generally speaking, only law enforcement services (police, customs, airport security, ...) have the authority to search the personal items of people. 

    Apple is so concerned about the privacy of people, but when its employees are involved, that concept is not that important anymore.  

    A - It's much more likely Apple reserved this right in their employment agreements than not.

    B - This was at a stadium. I am curious if football fans can enter stadiums in the UK/Europe with bags, and without their bags or persons going through some security check?
    edited August 2021 llama
  • Reply 10 of 13
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 2,000member
    Hopefully more comes out on the source of the positive test for "explosives" traces.  I am not at all saying that the guy was  responsible.  I am just interested to see what the final explanation is.  
    edited August 2021
  • Reply 11 of 13
    Just wait until Apple finds traces of illegal photos on your iPhone and turns you in to law enforcement.
    AirDrop will get someone arrested.
    Convince me I'm wrong.
    (The Sun had a story today about people putting porn photos on people's phones using AirDrop).
    1) The default setting for AirDrop is to only allow people saved in your contacts to send you anything. One would have to manually and purposefully change that setting to allow all iOS users to send you things.
    2) Even if someone changed that setting, AirDrop shows a preview of what's being sent and asks you to accept or decline before transferring to you.
    3) If someone can trick you into receiving ASAM through AirDrop, someone can trick you into just about anything and perhaps you shouldn't have a phone.
    4) The Sun barely qualifies as a newspaper
    JFC_PAllamaronnmrtotes
  • Reply 12 of 13
    sbdudesbdude Posts: 259member
    Just wait until Apple finds traces of illegal photos on your iPhone and turns you in to law enforcement.
    AirDrop will get someone arrested.
    Convince me I'm wrong.
    (The Sun had a story today about people putting porn photos on people's phones using AirDrop).
    1) The default setting for AirDrop is to only allow people saved in your contacts to send you anything. One would have to manually and purposefully change that setting to allow all iOS users to send you things.
    2) Even if someone changed that setting, AirDrop shows a preview of what's being sent and asks you to accept or decline before transferring to you.
    3) If someone can trick you into receiving ASAM through AirDrop, someone can trick you into just about anything and perhaps you shouldn't have a phone.
    4) The Sun barely qualifies as a newspaper

    I don't believe he made your fourth contention, only that there was an article in the Sun.
  • Reply 13 of 13
    ronnronn Posts: 653member
    Just wait until Apple finds traces of illegal photos on your iPhone and turns you in to law enforcement.
    AirDrop will get someone arrested.
    Convince me I'm wrong.
    (The Sun had a story today about people putting porn photos on people's phones using AirDrop).
    "Just wait until Apple finds traces of illegal photos on your iPhone and turns you in to law enforcement."

    So kiddie porn shouldn't be reported to authorities if Apple finds it being uploaded to its servers?
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