A white worker in an Asian food factory who was told that he didn't understand recipes because of his colour and that he should go and work for an English firm has won his claim of race discrimination.
When Colin Sorby complained about the 'stereotypical' comments at one of the UK's leading food manufacturers, his shifts dried up and he was effectively fired.
The employment tribunal ruled the comments at Mumtaz Foods violated the production worker's dignity.
His supervisor Azheem Akhtar thought only British Asians like himself should be allowed to work at the company that supplies meals to Indian restaurants and supermarkets, the hearing was told.
Mr Akhtar claimed he apologised, but the tribunal did not accept this since no disciplinary action was taken against him.
Mr Akhtar said his offensive comment was a misunderstanding due to language difficulties but the employment judge said he was clearly able express himself in English on everyday matters.
Mr Sorby, described as white British, was recruited by Bradford Management Services, a subsidiary of Mumtaz, in July last year on a zero hours contract.
After Mr Akhtar made the comments, Mr Sorby was told he was being placed 'on call' - a euphemism for being dismissed. He was asked to clear his locker and hand in property.
He was also advised to look for another job because he was told he would not be offered any more work.
He was initially told by human resources manager Paulo Silva this action was being taken because of his poor attendance and performance.
When he pressed where these allegations came from, he was told by Mr Silva that they emanated from Mr Akhtar.
The judge said: 'The effect of the comment was that due to the fact the claimant was not English he could not cook Asian food properly.
The judge said Mr Akhtar was a long serving employee who described himself as a friend of company director Bilal Akbar.
He believed a white person should not be working for an Asian company and a decision was taken to remove Mr Sorby, the employment judge concluded.
The tribunal upheld Mr Sorby's claims for racial discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
Nice to hear that discrimination works both ways. its something we rarely hear of. I wonder what the real statistics are
I worked for Burberry as quality control, it was after it was sold to a Turkish owner but long before chavs decided to use it as a uniform. I was the only non-Turkish worker. It was a very lonely place to work where I was stared at all day but never smiled at or spoken too. . The manager took me on as a favour for a mutual friend. but I would never again work in a place that only employed its fellow countryman.
Give me a wide variety of race and creed for a truly great working atmosphere and many laughs.
Discrimination has always worked both ways, unfortunately we only tend to hear about the 'one way system. The 'he who shouts loudest' method of getting news coverage often works.
I have just watched PMQ.s where a Muslim MP accused the government of 'structural racism' in the UK because BME groups here have not been given priority for receiving the Corrona19 vaccination.
Discrimination has always worked both ways, unfortunately we only tend to hear about the 'one way system. The 'he who shouts loudest' method of getting news coverage often works.
I have just watched PMQ.s where a Muslim MP accused the government of 'structural racism' in the UK because BME groups here have not been given priority for receiving the Corrona19 vaccination.
Yet the same BME groups are those who are resisting the vaccine the most (just read the news).
It's laughable.
Whitey is always to blame for everything.
__________________
Simple. You, you're the threads. But me, I'm the rope.
The MP who accused Boris of structural racism was Aspana Begun.
It's true that many BME people work front line, and many of them are being given priority re the vaccine, the others will have to wait in line like the rest of us.
I wonder if she will be also spouting off about the high percentage of BME people who refuse to social distance, wear masks and in fact act as if this virus doesn't exist, which no doubt has been one cause of the high infection rate amongst those groups??...and it's those same people who will be refusing the vaccine even when it is offered.
This is from her Wiki page.
On 9 April 2020, in an article published by Left Foot Forward, Apsana Begum MP raised concerns about impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income families and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people, saying
"...evidence also suggests that ethnic minority communities are at a greater risk. This is unsurprising given the proportion of workers from black and ethnic minority backgrounds being on the front line of the fight against the virus."[27]
Begum tabled Early Day Motion Number 427, "COVID-19 and BAME Communities" and spoke about this issue during the 2nd Reading debate of the Finance Bill on 27 April 2020.[28] On 12 May, Begum raised this issue again in Parliament, highlighting new data released by Tower Hamlet's Council:[29]
"New local figures today show that Tower Hamlets residents of Asian background are twice as likely to be showing signs of COVID-19, yet shockingly this is not news per se, but confirmation of what had already become increasingly clear. Many of us have been raising concerns about the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic people for weeks and weeks now—right since the onset of this crisis. The Government finally announced that they were launching a review of the impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities, but what has actually happened since—what actual steps have been taken? I am forced to continue to say it again and again: urgent, immediate and robust steps must be taken to address the unequal health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic groups—not tomorrow but today."
The MP who accused Boris of structural racism was Aspana Begun.
It's true that many BME people work front line, and many of them are being given priority re the vaccine, the others will have to wait in line like the rest of us.
I wonder if she will be also spouting off about the high percentage of BME people who refuse to social distance, wear masks and in fact act as if this virus doesn't exist, which no doubt has been one cause of the high infection rate amongst those groups??...and it's those same people who will be refusing the vaccine even when it is offered.
This is from her Wiki page.
On 9 April 2020, in an article published by Left Foot Forward, Apsana Begum MP raised concerns about impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income families and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people, saying
"...evidence also suggests that ethnic minority communities are at a greater risk. This is unsurprising given the proportion of workers from black and ethnic minority backgrounds being on the front line of the fight against the virus."[27]
Begum tabled Early Day Motion Number 427, "COVID-19 and BAME Communities" and spoke about this issue during the 2nd Reading debate of the Finance Bill on 27 April 2020.[28] On 12 May, Begum raised this issue again in Parliament, highlighting new data released by Tower Hamlet's Council:[29]
"New local figures today show that Tower Hamlets residents of Asian background are twice as likely to be showing signs of COVID-19, yet shockingly this is not news per se, but confirmation of what had already become increasingly clear. Many of us have been raising concerns about the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic people for weeks and weeks now—right since the onset of this crisis. The Government finally announced that they were launching a review of the impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities, but what has actually happened since—what actual steps have been taken? I am forced to continue to say it again and again: urgent, immediate and robust steps must be taken to address the unequal health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic groups—not tomorrow but today."
Very well said.
It also infuriates me that many Muslim and Hindu people would be prepared to catch COVID and spread it like wildfire just because of (false) claims that some vaccines have ingredients derived from pig or cow gelatine.
It seems they would rather risk a horrible death than defy a load of old cobblers in ancient superstitious texts.
The scientists who have worked 24/7 for a year to give us protection from this terrible pandemic must simply despair.
__________________
Simple. You, you're the threads. But me, I'm the rope.
