BLUE ISLANDS’ marketing department redundancy was not genuine, its process was not correct and the effort made to avoid it was not adequate, a former employee’s representative told an industrial tribunal yesterday.

But airline boss Derek Coates (pictured) maintained making his former head of marketing Trish Grover redundant following the collapse of the company’s Aurigny bid was correct.

On the second day of the hearing in his closing statement, Mrs Grover’s representative, Andy Castle, said the redundancy was not genuine as in the past she had proven to be capable of adapting to the company’s new digital direction. He also claimed she would have been willing to accept other positions in the company had Blue Islands made efforts to seek out something appropriate.

But Mr Coates said Mrs Grover had made no attempt to engage in the consultation process.

Tribunal members will now consider their ruling.

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