A Sutton teenager who took his employer to a tribunal over a wages row after claiming he was treated as a general dog's body, has lost his case.

Ben Bartlett, 17, lost his court battle with boss Dave Collins, who owns construction company Hoveair in South Norwood, after Thursday's employment tribunal in Croydon heard he had signed a contract which stipulated the wages he was paid.

Giving evidence, the plumbing apprentice, who began his job in August 2000, told the court his boss made him fetch his lunch and vacuum his car.

Mr Bartlett said: "I never questioned it because I was only 16 and thought that was what having a job was about.

According to Mr Bartlett his apprenticeship, which was arranged by Building Engineering Services Training (BEST) in association with Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association, was a waste of time.

Under BEST guidelines he would have been paid £3.42 per hour rising to £3.59 per hour in October. Displaying his wage slips in court, Mr Bartlett claimed that he was only paid £3 per hour throughout the year he was employed by Hoveair.

In his argument, he said: "BEST rates of pay should have applied because that's who I was employed through."

His counsel added: "Ben was given a memo from Dave Collins explaining that pay would continue under the current BEST guidelines."

"The company clearly represents these organisations as their vans and letter heads all have the HVCA logos."

But Mr Collins, who was not present in court, had submitted a copy of the contract of employment that morning.

The document, which had been signed by Mr Bartlett, illustrated he had agreed to be paid less than the amount stipulated by BEST rates of pay.

Earlier this week Mr Collins said: "We are a small company who has done all it can for young apprentices.

Mr Barlett's father, Steve Bartlett, said: "There is a principle at stake and we don't want other employers to get away with it."

November 16, 2001 10:31