`Unfair' to sack pair for cinema romance.

Byline: IAN LEONARD

A COUPLE who fell in love while working at a cinema yesterday won their claim they were forced them out of their jobs.

Rhys Owen, 25, of Marford, Wrexham and Rachel Griffiths, 33, alleged they were given an ultimatum to move, split up, or quit -- and this amounted to bullying tactics by management.

The couple had also claimed two other employees at the UGC cinema in Chester were also having a relationship and the company had not objected.

A Liverpool employment tribunal yesterday ruled in favour of their claim for unfair and constructive dismissal.

Cinema operation manager Ms Griffiths, formerly from Deeside and now living in Christleton, Chester, and deputy manager Mr Owen, from Wrexham, revealed their relationship at a staff Christmas party.

A month later, they met the company's business manager, Steven Antcliff, who issued them with the ultimatum.

The couple were already working separate shifts in line with company policy.

But the couple claimed they were put under undue pressure by Mr Antcliff and during a meeting in January, this year, were told to move, split up or resign.

The ``final straw'' for the couple, the tribunal heard, had come on Valentines' Day, when they were told by Mr Antcliff that they would not receive any sick pay they had claimed for time off due to stress.

Mr Owen and Ms Griffiths had both resigned shortly after. The tribunal had found ``the evidence of Mr Antcliff not to be entirely accurate and in all cases truthful''.

It ruled the cinema had breached its own relationships at work policy and its obligation to pay sick pay.

Mr Antcliff's conduct had destroyed the relationship of trust and confidence between employer and employees, '' it added.

Wrexham solicitor Tudor Williams said: ``This judgment represents a victory for fairness and common sense. ''

A spokesperson for UGC said the company was not prepared to comment.

CAPTION(S):

Rhys Owen and Rachel Griffiths were told to move, split up or quit