BRUM “RACISM” VERDICT - THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

19-03-2007

The repercussions are still being felt of The Stirrer's revelation that Birmingham Council isa racist employerwhich victimised one of it's black workers. A councillor involved in the case has hit out at the judgement, but a number of serious questions remain unanswered.

On Friday, we broke the news that Paul Samuels who worked in the local authority's legal services department had been unfairly dismissed, and that he was discriminated against on the grounds of his race (read the full story here).

The local authority told us that they were considering an appeal, but pointed out that 28 of 31 claims and grievances brought by Samuels had been rejected (read their response here).

Among those criticisedwere the city's chief legal officer Mirza Ahmad, one of his senior officers David Tatlow and Mike Ward a councillor for Sheldon.

Ward sat on the appeals panelafter Samuels was dismissed, butthe tribunal said its work “was severely hampered" by"the inadequacy of the evidence” he presented.

One issue was the apparent lack of minuted information and Ward's own failure of memory about the case.

He has now responded on the messageboard of this website saying: “Some 9 months passed between the internal appeal and the employment tribunal. I chair all appeals panels and during those nine months chaired several other panels and as a result heard many other cases.

“Appeals panels are sub-committees of Birmingham City Council and are therefore minuted like any other committee.

”Finally I refute absolutely the suggestion that I or my colleagues on the Panel acted in a racist manner and find this part of the Tribunal's judgement surprising and disappointing.”

Which is all very well - but it doesn't answer the key question of why Ward didn't consult the minutes before the Tribunal hearing and why he was apparently so poorly prepared.

The judgement makes it clear that this omission allowed the racism charge to stand.

There are other questions too: How much has the case cost so far when barristers' costs and officers/ time are accounted for?

Who is making the decision on whether or not to appeal?

What changes to the city council's procedures, if any, are being introduced in the light of such a devastating verdict?

Are any of the three people criticised in the tribunal's verdict being subject to any disciplinary action?

Does the Council wish to take this opportunity to apologise to Mr Samuels?

We await the answers with interest.

Join the Brum Council Racism thread on our News messageboard.