Barber takes ATL to the IDT

Catherine Barber, former general manager of the ATL Pension Fund, has taken her former employer to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, contending that she was unlawfully dismissed in April 2011.

Barber, who is being represented by attorney-at-law Gavin Goffe, says she was not given a hearing before her dismissal.

But ATL's attorney, Hugh Wildman, says there was no need for her to be given a hearing because of the allegations against her at the time.

Barber's dismissal stemmed from her being charged, along with two others, for allegedly distributing $1.7 billion of interest and withdrawal surpluses to members of the scheme without the consent of its founder Gorstew Limited.

They were also accused of using forged letters to deceive ATL Chairman Gordon 'Butch' Stewart that consent had been obtained.

The three were freed of the charges in August, after Resident Magistrate Lorna Shelly-Williams upheld no-case submissions by their attorneys.

In dismissing the charges, the judge said the prosecutors did not present a case that would result in a reasonable jury finding them guilty.