Monday Issues. 30/04/2012. According to Wales on line.
AN EX-SOLDIER blinded by an IRA bomb while on active service in Northern Ireland will receive substantial compensation after an employment tribunal decided he had been harassed, victimised and made redundant because he was disabled.
Andrew Bull, 48, of Ebbw Vale, lost the sight in both eyes as a bomb exploded in Falls Road, Belfast while he was part of a four-man team from the Royal Regiment of Wales escorting police officers. Following the incident in November 1983 he attended a rehabilitation programme, and two years later was given a job as a telephonist by Blaenau Gwent council.
Mr Bull worked for the council for 25 years, but in 2010 he was made redundant. An employment tribunal hearing in Cardiff upheld his claim that he was harassed, victimised and discriminated against because of his disability.
The tribunal heard evidence that after a strike which took place in 2008 while Mr Bull was off work sick, unpleasant remarks were made to him by colleagues. His immediate line manager in the estates department, Andrew Offers, asked him whether he would be donating his two days pay to charity, while in Mr Bull’s hearing the council’s estates manager Ron Taylor said during a discussion with other workers, “Don’t worry, people only go on the sick.”
When Mr Bull challenged him, Mr Taylor walked away, muttering “Just go on the sick again”.
Mr Bull took out a grievance, but the matter was not properly investigated by the council.
Because of Mr Bull’s disability, officers had been in the habit of telling him when they were going out of the office. Some of them stopped doing so and ceased communicating with him.
Eventually Mr Bull was made redundant without proper consideration being given to how he could be redeployed after an office reorganisation.
The tribunal judgement said: “The claim of harassment relies on the behaviour of Mr Offers and Mr Taylor. It is clear that the conduct towards the claimant was unwanted. This relates to both aspects of the behaviour – the active comments and failure to communicate with the claimant.”
The tribunal concluded that Mr Bull’s claims of harassment and victimisation were well-founded, as was his claim that he had been discriminated against because of his disability. Read MoreCourtesy of Walesonline.
Ffeirio Says! I would simply like to quote to you directly from Andrew Bull
“Despite losing my sight, I still counted my blessings. However, the long-term psychological damage that I have suffered as a direct result of my perceived inhumane treatment from Blaenau Gwent council and its senior management has been extremely damaging – especially the appalling manner in which they treated one of their disabled members of staff who they knew quite well as a local man who had lost his sight in the service of his country.” – Andrew Bull.
We are Survivors, We are not Victims. Please treat us with respect not pity or ridicule.
Should Andrew Bull be entitled to £200.000 damages? Is disability abuse in the work place expected, tolerated or should it be expossed for what it really is, intimidation? What do you think about disability rights. Does it affect you? Do you give Blaenau Gwent Council the thumbs up or thumbs down? May be your unsure perhaps your 50/50. Let us know what you think. Send us your comments and experiences
Survivor Campaign “We are Survivors. Not victims. Please treat us with respect not pity or ridicule”. Why not! Sign our e-petition. If we can get 100.000 names we can have the issue debated in parliament
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