Royal Mail tribunal payout over racism at Blackburn depot

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-la ... e-19070261" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A former Royal Mail postal worker who was sacked after complaining about colleagues' racism has been awarded compensation at an employment tribunal.

The Manchester tribunal heard Abdul Musa was dismissed from the Blackburn depot after he was seen as a "problem".

One worker was sacked and others disciplined following his complaints, but Mr Musa himself was then dismissed in 2007, the tribunal was told.

A Royal Mail spokesman said the firm has no room for racism.

It has been ordered to pay Mr Musa an undisclosed amount of compensation.
'Sent to Coventry'

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) supported Mr Musa's claim of victimisation following his complaints of racist behaviour in 2006.

The tribunal heard he was "sent to Coventry" after his complaints led to another worker being sacked.

An internal investigation was held into his complaints, leading to disciplinary cases being taken against several other workers, and later Mr Musa was dismissed.

The case was heard at the start of 2012, with the settlement being announced earlier on Tuesday.

John Wadham, general counsel for the EHRC, said: "The Equality Act protects people from being victimised for making complaints about any form of discrimination in the workplace.

"It also says employers have a responsibility to take complaints seriously and to put a stop to discrimination."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "There is no room in Royal Mail for racism or any other form of discrimination.

"We are committed to investigating any complaint of discrimination fairly and thoroughly."

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Asian postman branded a 'cockroach' by colleagues is awarded £100,000 after being sacked for exposing sorting office racism

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... acism.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Following Abdul Musa's complaints he was accused of racial and sexual counter-accusations
He and another worker were sacked in 2007 and 12 colleagues were disciplined
This prompted strike action and graffiti 'Kill the P***s' was found in the staff toilet
Tribunal judge slams Royal Mail's investigation into the racism as 'shambolic'


A postman has received a £100,000 payout after he exposed 'endemic racism' at his sorting office where Asian workers were labelled 'cockroaches' and 'vermin'.

Abdul Musa blew the whistle on problems at the Canterbury Street sorting office where he worked in Blackburn, Lancashire between 2006 and 2007.

Asian workers, including Mr Musa, were labelled ‘cockroaches’ ‘vermin’ and ‘P***s’, an employment tribunal heard, and an Italian worker also received racial slurs and was dubbed a ‘greasy b******’.

But following Mr Musa's complaints he was accused of a string of ‘quite incredible’ racial and sexual counter-accusations, and sacked in early 2007.

Postal worker Christopher Eccles was also sacked, as a result of the ongoing abuse, and 12 colleagues were later disciplined.

The episode prompted strike action at the delivery office and the graffiti ‘Kill The P****’ appeared in a staff toilet, the tribunal was told.

Yesterday an employment tribunal ruled that Mr Musa was racially victimised by his colleagues and the judge blasted Royal Mail's investigation into his slurs as 'shambolic'.

The tribunal judge ruled that Mr Musa had been unfairly dismissed in July 2007 and upheld his racial discrimination claims.

The findings of a five-day tribunal, held in Manchester in January 2012, have only now been made public.

The Equality Commission attacked Royal Mail for failing to protect Mr Musa, from Burnley, following efforts by a union and fellow staff to drive him out.

In a statement the Commission said: 'The tribunal found that managers at the depot in Blackburn had known endemic racism was an issue, but failed to act to protect Mr Musa.'

Tribunal judge Mrs C Porter said it was ‘quite startling’ that the graffiti’s origins were then never investigated.

Mrs Porter added: 'The procedure adopted by the respondent (Royal Mail) for the investigations and disciplinary action was shambolic.'

An internal Royal Mail inquiry, conducted by an independent investigator, Neil Donovan, decided that Mr Musa, who is of Indian origin, was racially, verbally, and physically harassed by more than a dozen colleagues.

Concerns were also raised by the judge about the actions of the Communication Workers Union in ‘priming’ and ‘intimidating’ witnesses, during a series of internal inquiries.

But the findings of a later Royal Mail investigation into the wider issues identified at the Blackburn office, was said to have not been made available to the tribunal by the company.

The tribunal ruled Mr Musa’s continuing employment was seen as a ‘problem’ by Royal Mail, ‘which was resolved by his dismissal.’

The tribunal heard how one worker, accused of mimicking Asian colleagues, was sacked and three colleagues were suspended after an internal probe at the Blackburn office.

Mr Musa was himself sacked in 2007 after a counter-allegations were made against him by colleagues.

Giving evidence, he denied calling fellow Asian postal workers ‘cockroaches and vermin’ and several sexual misconduct claims.

The episode pushed the Blackburn sorting office to the brink of strike action in support of the sacked postman, Christopher Eccles, and three suspended colleagues.

Mr Musa alleged that he was ‘sent to Coventry’, in 2006 and 2007, and repeatedly complained to management that he was being isolated and ignored by workmates.

He claimed he was called by a colleague, whose voice he recognised, late at night and told: 'You want to watch your back.'

The former postman accused Royal Mail of failing to support him, after he made his original complaint, and breaching his confidentiality.

He said details of his claims were handed around the sorting office for others to read, leading to further intimidation.

Mr Musa told the hearing: 'None of my Asian colleagues stopped talking to me. If it had not been for their support the affect on my health would have been even worse.'

He claimed the allegations against him were an ‘act of revenge’ by colleagues after he highlighted racist culture at the sorting office.

John Wadham, a former director of Liberty and now general counsel for the EHRC, said: 'The fact that his colleagues were acting unlawfully was not enough to stop them from victimising Mr Musa.

'People facing discrimination also need an advocate, such as the Commission, to make sure that the law is obeyed.'

The EHRC funded Mr Musa’s case after his previous legal representation withdrew from the proceedings.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: 'There is no room in Royal Mail for racism or any other form of discrimination. We are committed to investigating any complaint of discrimination fairly and thoroughly.'

[Red Robbo]

Well, where was the Union Support ???????

[Brainache]

"Concerns were also raised by the judge about the actions of the Communication Workers Union in ‘priming’ and ‘intimidating’ witnesses, during a series of internal inquiries."

The union cant be trusted to treat everyone equaly when a `popular` jack the lad postie is accused of bullying.

[fishtank]

"Concerns were also raised by the judge about the actions of the Communication Workers Union in ‘priming’ and ‘intimidating’ witnesses, during a series of internal inquiries."

The union cant be trusted to treat everyone equaly when a `popular` jack the lad postie is accused of bullying.

Some reps cant be trusted to treat everyone equally when a `popular` jack the lad postie is accused of bullying.
I don't personally like to refer to this type of people as "the union".
I believe most of them would struggle to spell union never mind understand the principles that are supposed to underpin one.

[General Mannerheim]

A Royal Mail spokesman said: 'There is no room in Royal Mail for racism or any other form of discrimination. We are committed to investigating any complaint of discrimination fairly and thoroughly.'

And then just ignoring it.

[Brainache]

"Concerns were also raised by the judge about the actions of the Communication Workers Union in ‘priming’ and ‘intimidating’ witnesses, during a series of internal inquiries."

The union cant be trusted to treat everyone equaly when a `popular` jack the lad postie is accused of bullying.

Some reps cant be trusted to treat everyone equally when a `popular` jack the lad postie is accused of bullying.
I don't personally like to refer to this type of people as "the union".
I believe most of them would struggle to spell union never mind understand the principles that are supposed to underpin one.

Sorry - I`ll reword it -
Some local union reps cant be trusted to stick to the antibullying principles when a popular jack the lad postie is accused of bullying.

[Red Robbo]

Maybe on this occasion the CWU Equal Opportunites Department buried their head in the sand when the Asian member needed some support from the racist bullies ?

[brothermagrew]

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uplo ... l_mail.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The reserved judgement can be viewed at the above link.

[General Mannerheim]

I find it quite incredible that one of the managers named in the above judgement was promoted to D.S.M.
And neither management or cwu came out with any credit with the judges...which is no surprise.

[hantsman]

Shocking reading And did anybody see that even when the ET ordered RM to hand over the wider issues report from Mr Desia DSM that RM failed to do so.

[R@YAL F@IL]

This case is one of many, if you google postman sues royal mail the list is endless. If Royal Fail employed just one type of race and put them in one office then we would all have huge bonuses each year

[madari]

Very very disturbing judgement.........managers telling barefaced lies to their own investigators....managers lying at the ET as for the CWU.....Mr Caddy should be sacked for bringing both the CWU & the Royal mail into disrepute.

Did Mr Musa even receive an apology??...I think not......brave man .. Mr Musa...total respect for exposing this corrupt organisation.......who tried to cover up the goings on at one of its depots...........total respect....enjoy!!

[liamlayor]

We look forward to reading a statement from the CWU telling us what action they have taken towards these corrupt representatives.

As for Royal Mail saying they don't tolerate discrimination in any form - don't make me laugh! Yet one more of Royal Mail's standard statements which they regularly trot out because it sounds like the right thing to say- and then they fight the victims tooth-and-nail when they complain, even in the face of overwhelming and compelling evidence that they really are victims.

Not only does Royal Mail accept bullying, harassment, victimisation and discrimination in all it's forms, the managers wouldn't know how to run their offices without it. In fact, carrying out these practices would appear to be a pre-requisite for applicants to the job and certainly appears to be career-enhancing judging by the promotion of one of the managers involved.

Shame on Royal Mail and shame on CWU for allowing this to happen, and the heartiest congratulations and respect to Mr. Musa for fighting this - and for winning.

[Red Robbo]

This is incredible, you could not make it up if you tried, shame on the CWU & Royal Mail