Birmingham City Council ‘white wash’ staff

Birmingham City Council are facing one of their biggest internal race allegations for a generation. Following a review of the City’s Neighbourhood Offices, where 11 Managers in post were to be reduced to 5. All 5 white staff were selected whilst all 6 Black staff were told their services were no longer required.

The Six BME Managers appealed on the grounds of Race, and despite a lengthy internal investigation and indeed an appeal to the appropriate Council Committee, it was decided that the system used for recruitment was flawed as it had been changed and further alleged by the Claimants that it did not comply with Birmingham’s recruitment and selection procedures.

The case is now with Birmingham’s Employment tribunal.

Black staff particularly in the public sector are being subject to this treatment far too often. In many cases, it is difficult to prove, but staff and unions representing Black workers in Lambeth council and in the Equality Human Rights Commission, both claim Black staff are being ‘discriminated against’ much more than their white counterparts.

Simon Woolley