Unfair Dismissal: £17,000 Compensation for Disabled Cleaner

A cleaner with learning difficulties who was sacked from his job at Fulham FC's football ground today scored a big court win at a key disability discrimination case.

Anthony Brazil was fired by Prestige Commercial Cleaning Services, only days after the firm took over the cleaning contract at the stadium. The tribunal ordered the company to pay £17,000 compensation to Mr Brazil for injury to his feelings, loss of earnings and unfair dismissal.

Anthony was one of 13 disabled staff whose employment was terminated in September 2001, less than a week after his employer changed. They had worked for United Response, a company that provided employment for people with learning disabilities. United Response lost a tender for cleaning services at Fulham Football Ground to Prestige Commercial Cleaning Services.

Prestige laid off the staff after stating that it required people to work more flexible arrangements. The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) argued that Prestige failed to offer the staff the chance to demonstrate they could meet the new flexible arrangements.

Juliette Nash, of the North Kensington Law Centre who ran the case with the support of the DRC, said the Employment Tribunal unanimously declared that this had been a case of discrimination, under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

DRC Chairman, Bert Massie, said the case was an important victory because it would remind employers that they cannot sack people just because they were disabled.
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