Friday, 19 October 2007

UCATT Wins Major Racist Discrimination Case At Employment Tribunal

A woman who suffered eight years of racial abuse at a small electronics company in Essex has been awarded over £33,000 in compensation by an employment tribunal.

Pauline Taylor 61, of mixed race, has worked as a technician at Benham General Engineering Ltd, (trading as Dantech and Ors), in Maldon Essex, since 1999. There had always been an undercurrent of racism at the company but the abuse gradually became worse. Mrs Taylor was the only member of staff from an ethnic minority.

Mrs Taylor was referred to as “nigger”, literature from the British National Party was placed on her workstation and other workers openly discussed the extreme Right-wing party’s policies in her presence.

A picture of Mrs Taylor was taken at work and placed in a company brochures she was informed that this was because she was the token black.

Mrs Taylor was moved to a separate part of the building, which was not heated. This was a particular problem as she suffers from diabetes and chilblains. When she brought her own heater to work, in order to stay warm, this was confiscated. Only when other workers were moved into the same area and complained about the cold was heating provided.

After repeatedly failing to have her problem s resolved Mrs Taylor contacted UCATT’s Eastern Region. After giving initial assistance and advice and realising the gravity of the abuse, the case was then transferred to the union’s solicitors OH Parsons.

At the tribunal the representatives of the company argued that they did not know the Mrs Taylor was mixed race and that she had changed her appearance for the tribunal. Due to this unfounded allegation the tribunal awarded Mrs Taylor an additional £5,000.

Pauline Taylor, said: “No one should experience the constant racist abuse I received. I hope that other people who find themselves in a similar position will now have the confidence to speak up and seek help.”

Alan Ritchie general secretary of UCATT, said: “This shocking case underlines that racism still exists in the workplace. However the courage of Mrs Taylor working with our officials in the Eastern Region and our lawyers means has that the abuse was exposed and the company punished.”

Nick Story, a partner at OH Parsons, who represented Mrs Taylor, said: “This is the worst case of systematic racial abuse I have encountered in 15 years of professional practice. Whilst I am delighted that Mrs Taylor will finally be compensated for this, I am nevertheless appalled that such behaviour can still be tolerated in the workplace. I do hope that the Tribunal's decision sends out a clear message to all employers.”

The tribunal adjudged the case so serious that the company must work in consultation with the Commission for Racial Equality, to provide training for all directors and managers in dealing with discrimination complaints and procedures and that all the companies workers must undergo diversity training. The company must keep Mrs Taylor informed of these courses. She should not return to work before they are completed and if they are not conducted she will receive further damages.