A SOCIAL worker who claimed she was subject to racial discrimination by her employer, Leicester City Council, has won a significant legal victory, with an appeal court ruling that the council’s decision to dismiss her was because of her race.
Bindu Parmar was subjected by the council to three “baseless” investigations, which amounted to less favourable treatment due to her race, the court concluded, upholding lower court judgements.
Unison, her union, said Ms Parmar, who held a senior role in the local authority’s adult social care service, had an unblemished work record for more than 30 years.
While her manager disciplined Ms Parmar and other Asian employees, no action was taken against white colleagues in similar or worse situations, the court found.
It also concluded: “There had been a conscious decision by the council or by its legal team not to disclose highly relevant evidence.”
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “No-one should face discrimination at work or be forced out of a job in the disgraceful way Bindu Parmar was.
“She’s finally got the justice she deserves. But this loyal and dedicated employee, who the union has continued to support, endured a harrowing ordeal simply because of her race. That’s appalling.
“Worse still, Leicester City Council has spent years dragging out this case in repeated appeals. Local authorities should never be allowed to waste public money like this.
“Unison will always stand up to employers that discriminate against and are racist towards their staff,” Ms McAnea said.
Ms Parmar said: “I’m disappointed the council chose to waste taxpayers’ money by fighting my case again and again, instead of looking within the organisation to eradicate racism and deal with the senior manager responsible.
“If the council can behave in a racist and discriminatory way towards its own senior staff and then cover it up, how can we possibly trust that the same isn’t happening to service users behind closed doors?
“This is bigger than one case. It’s about whether we, as a society, will allow discrimination to sit at the heart of public services.”
The union had warned Leicester City Council against wasting public money by pursuing the case, which the authority has now lost on three occasions. This decision marks the end of the case.
Ms Parmar is also bringing an unfair dismissal claim against Leicester City Council. A hearing is scheduled to take place later this year.
