Race discrimination charge rejected

An employment tribunal has cleared Croydon social services director
Hannah Miller of allegations of race discrimination.

The case against Miller was brought by Gbolahan Awotungase after
she publicly described him as “a hard taskmaster who bullied and
harassed the duty management team” when naming him as employee of
the year at a social services award ceremony in December
2002.

The tribunal concluded that Miller’s words were not intended to be
“disparaging” but were in recognition of the hard work Awotungase
had done.

However, the tribunal criticised the council’s complaints procedure
for being “unsatisfactory and potentially unjust” for allowing a
grievance taken out against a very senior manager to be dealt with
in a single hearing.

As a result, the council has been forced to improve its complaints
procedures.

Awotungase plans to appeal against the tribunal decision.