Nigerian man awarded €7,500 over harassment

A NIGERIAN welder who claimed he was bullied and harassed by co-workers at a company in Waterford has been awarded €7,500.

Tony Odion was employed by sheet metal manufacturers Techniform (Waterford) Ltd in September 2003, following a two-week work experience placement on completion of a FÁS course. Mr Odion, whose case was heard by the Equality Tribunal, alleged he had problems with co-workers throwing paper towels at him.

Mr Odion said three co-workers caused him constant problems by telling him he was working too hard and should slow down. He says they told him there had previously been two black employees in the company who were no longer there, and, according to equality officer Anne-Marie Lynch, “he interpreted this as a threat that he would meet the same fate”.

Mr Odion alleged:

* That the three co-workers told him they owned the company and that they would get rid of him if he did not slow down.

* That when he threatened to report them, he was told that if he did so “no one would f***ing talk to” him.

* That two of the men asked him if he knew that black men were slaves.

* That at various times he was called a “nigger” and a “black bastard”, and was told to go home to Nigeria and that his greeting to co-workers of “hello brother” met with the response “I am not your fucking brother, we are not black”.

The company ordered an investigation into Mr Odion’s claims but he subsequently went on sick leave and decided to resign. The company talked him out of this and he returned after his co-workers apologised, but he was subsequently informed by another colleague that his co-workers intended to strike because of his return. He said as soon as he put his helmet on he was showered with nuts and bolts. Mr Odion said the circumstances at work caused him to become depressed and he was certified as unfit for work in April 2004.

The company denied that Mr Odion was harassed. However Ms Lynch found in Mr Odion’s favour and ordered Techniform to pay him €7,500 for the effects of discrimination and to ensure that its harassment and bullying policies were “formally and adequately disseminated among its employees”.