Blackburn postman in race row warned to 'watch his back'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... h_his_back_/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A FORMER postman who was the centre of a major race row at an East Lancashire sorting office was warned to ‘watch his back’, an employment tribunal heard.

Abdul Musa, from Burnley, claims Royal Mail bosses failed to protect him from a culture of racist abuse and intimidation at Blackburn’s Canterbury Street postal centre, the Manchester hearing was told.

One worker, accused of mimicking Asian colleagues, was sacked and three colleagues were suspended after an internal probe at the Blackburn office.

But Mr Musa was himself kicked out of the service 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’ over the incident, 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 on February 18, and told: “You want to watch your back.”

The ex-postie has 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, who is claiming unfair dismissal, added: “None of my Asian colleagues stopped taking to me. If it had not be 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.

The hearing continues.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

A quick heads up - I will Moderate this thread very heavily if required.

[DGP1]

A quick heads up - I will Moderate this thread very heavily if required.

Do you want to borrow my gavel...................and judges outfit

[Pat Ostman]

A quick heads up - I will Moderate this thread very heavily if required.

Do you want to borrow my gavel...................and judges outfit

Damn, I promised to give you that back ages ago

[Lounge Lizard]

A quick heads up - I will Moderate this thread very heavily if required.

Without working in that office and knowing the employees concerned I doubt if there's anything any of us can reasonably add.

[fishtank]

Is this trying for the longest Industrial Tribunal in history award?

10:04am Tuesday 17th January 2012
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... h_his_back_/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

11:57am Thursday 3rd July 2008
http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/news/31 ... as_racist/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[glenfiddich]

im not saying anything

[DGP1]

im not saying anything

TBH there's nothing really to say, we're not in that office, we don't know who said what and to whom.

[General Mannerheim]

Is this trying for the longest Industrial Tribunal in history award?

10:04am Tuesday 17th January 2012
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... h_his_back_/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

11:57am Thursday 3rd July 2008
http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/news/31 ... as_racist/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sounds about normal for Manchester's tribunal lot.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

'Climate of fear' claim at Blackburn sorting office

6:00pm Saturday 21st January 2012

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... ng_office/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NO fewer than 13 postal workers were disciplined over a race row which engulfed an East Lancashire sorting office, it has emerged.

Lawyers representing Abdul Musa, claim there was a ‘climate of fear’ at the Blackburn delivery centre in Canterbury Street.

Neil Donovan, who was brought in by management to investigate Mr Musa’s claims, upheld several claims of bullying and harrassment by workmates.

Veteran postie Christopher Eccles, who mimicked Asian colleagues, was sacked and three other postal workers were suspended, the tribunal has previously heard.

And Mr Donovan confirmed that 13 people had cases to answer over allegations by Mr Musa, of Burnley, who said he had been ostracised by fellow workers after raising concerns over racism in the workplace.

A Royal Mail boss told an employment tribunal that tensions were bound to be raised once staff became aware statements had been made against them.

Mark Dudgeon, who was appointed delivery centre manager after the allegations came to light, said: “Mr Musa was reassurred by myself that if anyone said anything to him, or was doing anything which made him feel uncomfortable, then he could approach me.”

The tribunal heard that another worker, Nino Romano, had come forward, making similar claims to Mr Musa.

Later Mr Romano was confronted by a colleague, John Whittaker, with interview notes of accusations he had made against him. He later took three months sick leave with stress.

Mr Musa, who is claiming unfair dismissal, said that Mr Romano was initially supportive of his case but he later drafted a letter making numerous accusations against him.

Another Asian postal worker, according to Mr Donovan, was so ‘terrified’ that he was interviewed at his home behind drawn curtains.

The tribunal continues. The panel is expected to reserve judgement on the case pending written submissions by Royal Mail and Mr Musa’s legal team.

[madari]

This office is run by the BNP that goes under the guise of the CWU !!!!!

I know because my wife worked there.

[mazza111]

Sounds to me like extreme banter gone wrong. So many accusations of racism it's hard to believe they were all malicious. Although, who am I to judge, but if someone had made accusations of racism against me, I certainly wouldn't speak to that person again, give him no reason to say it again

Heard one of my former colleagues to another (white) colleage to f*** off u black b*stard. Now that in certain areas of Scotland, just means the person is smelly or dirty or both, unfortunately, and Indian temp was walking past at the same time.

If you heard the banter in Scottish offices over football too, you would be surprised that there's no complaints with how heated it gets and the name calling could easily be misconstrued as anything but banter. Maybe it's time RM nipped things like this in the bud before it gets out of hand.

Lost times the amount of times I was called a hun just because I'm from a town who hold rangers close to their hearts, doesn't matter that I don't like football

Guess what I'm trying to say is, what can start as banter in any office can quickly get out of hand and someone could quite easily take offence at it.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Heard one of my former colleagues to another (white) colleage to f*** off u black b*stard. Now that in certain areas of Scotland, just means the person is smelly or dirty or both, unfortunately, and Indian temp was walking past at the same time.

I always thought that the term "black" used as an insult in Scotland was religious rather than ethnic.

I have to say though that I don't understand people using religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation as a joke or an insult to anyone/everyone, it too easily offends. I hopefully don't go there unless I am 100% sure that it will be taken in the spirit its meant, and even then I have had to eat humble pie and apologise when I caused offence.

[Tman]

This office is run by the BNP that goes under the guise of the CWU !!!!!

I know because my wife worked there.

Didn't she get the job/duty she wanted then?

[fishtank]

This office is run by the BNP that goes under the guise of the CWU !!!!!

I know because my wife worked there.

Didn't she get the job/duty she wanted then?

Cheap shot even by your standards.