Tribunal Reveals Stellantis & You Executives Used Racist Slurs, Including ‘Somali Pirate’ and ‘Black Bastard’
London, UK (AX) — An employment tribunal determined that used car dealership, Stellantis & You, discriminated against two sales advisors. They faced racial slurs, including “Somali pirate” and “Black bastard.”
The tribunal found both the company and managers, Matthew Worsley and Tim Pickering, guilty of harassing Fathia Omar and Anthony Oguntokun on racial grounds. Omar’s exit from the company was declared constructive unfair dismissal. Worsley’s repetitive use of the term “Somali pirate” constituted racial harassment.
Employment Judge Patrick Quill affirmed that Omar and Oguntokun successfully demonstrated harassment and racial discrimination by Stellantis & You. Worsley had harassed Omar with derogatory terms, labeling her a “foreigner” and spraying her with air freshener, insinuating a “Somali smell” or non-existent “bullshit smell.”
Omar was barred from WhatsApp groups for colleagues on sick leave and was falsely informed she wouldn’t receive sick pay. The tribunal ruled this as a breach of contract and constructive dismissal. Omar resigned soon after, with her resignation confirmed as stemming from the employer’s contract breach.
An additional finding against Stellantis & You was direct race discrimination against Oguntokun. Worsley labeled him a “Black bastard” and made degrading remarks about Black customers, referring to them as “your lot.” Pickering’s comment dismissing the racial discrimination as mere “banter” was also ruled as harassment.
The tribunal concluded that the harassment fostered an environment that was “intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive” for Omar. The remedies for the affected employees will be addressed in a hearing scheduled for September.
