WRC told of 'culture of racism' at major security firm
Summary
Date Reported: 12 Dec 2023
Location: Ireland
Companies
One Complete Solutions - Employer , Tesco - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Security companies , Men , Unknown migration status )Issues
Racial, ethnicity, caste or origin discrimination , IntimidationResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: Naledi Bisiwe of IBEC, who appeared on behalf of the firm, said Mr Baqur-Hussain and the security guard were sanctioned based on the findings of investigations which had found no wrongdoing on the part of the other non-Indian manager on the scene. She put it to Mr Baqur-Hussain that he had failed to de-escalate the incident with Mr X as the company’s training and policies required. Two more former employees of the firm will be called into evidence by the trade union when the case resumes in the new year, including the security officer sanctioned over the fight with the alleged shoplifter.
Source type: News outlet
A "culture of racism" at a major security firm is behind the demotion of an Indian manager … SIPTU has told the Workplace Relations Commission.
The claim was made at a hearing into a complaint under the Employment Equality Act by the former manager, Sayed Baqur-Hussain, against One Complete Solutions Ltd, a managed services firm which employs hundreds in its security division as a contractor to clients including Irish Rail and Tesco.
Mr Baqur-Hussain admits punching a "well-known shoplifter" …he said he was acting in self-defence after the man was racially abusive…
the company investigation concluded that Mr Baqur-Hussain "assaulted" Mr X, the tribunal was told.
He received a final written warning and a demotion from account manager to security guard. The security officer was also placed on a final written warning, but disciplinary proceedings against the other account manager, who was not Indian, ended at the investigation stage with no sanction…
He said company policy forbade him from assigning Mr Baqur-Hussain or other Indian managers a security officer to cover shifts on the Tesco account if it meant paying overtime…
"When an Irish manager needs to cover something it would be covered, no issues," he said…