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Siptu alleges 'direct racial discrimination' at OCS

Summary

Trade union Siptu claims that the demotion of Indian manager Syed Baqur‑Hussain by security firm Complete Solutions Ltd (OCS) was due to direct racial discrimination. Baqur‑Hussain, who had been the company's contract manager, punched a man identified as a shoplifter during a melee on an escalator at Tesco's Jervis Shopping Centre on 30 August 2022. The company says he escalated the situation and was disciplined for his own actions, while a Polish colleague involved in the incident was not sanctioned. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has heard a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and is reviewing the decision. Siptu's representative, Nicola Coleman, argues that OCS's disciplinary process was biased, that the company failed to provide proper guidance on self‑defence and racial abuse, and that Baqur‑Hussain suffered a €62,000 loss in earnings. The WRC will issue a written decision in due course.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Siptu alleges 'direct racial discrimination' at OCS. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 30 August 2022 Other
• 2024-10-08 Publication

Why: "If I'm standing beside someone and he or she is being hit, I'm not going to act, because I'm not being hit," he added. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report