Stockton Morrisons warehouse manager claims he gave muslim couple special treatment

Peter Woodward told a tribunal he dealt personally with Ramadan holiday request of Donna and Yassin Tunkara, of Linthorpe

The manager who dealt with a Muslim couple who claim to have been unfairly denied holidays over Ramadan told a tribunal that he frequently gave them special treatment.

A tribunal at Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard claims from Donna and Yassin Tunkara, who say they suffered discrimination, harassment, victimisation and constructive dismissal after bosses at the Portrack Lane warehouse of supermarket giant Morrisons, in Stockton, turned down holiday requests for August 2012.

Peter Woodward, giving evidence, said that he had personally dealt with the request for time off to fast during the last two weeks of Ramadan.

The panel had asked Mr Woodward how holidays were normally dealt with, after Mrs Tunkara claimed the couple were not allowed to use holiday forms or approach other managers about time off.

He said that he had a spreadsheet that was full when Mrs Tunkara had made her request, with a rejected list for those who wanted to be considered in case of cancellations.

Mr and Mrs Tunkara, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, were not put on this list, confirmed Mr Woodward, as he “always sorted out their Ramadan arrangements”. He intended to discuss with them how he could structure shifts, breaks and rest days at a later date.

He also claimed that he frequently gave Mr Tunkara special treatment by letting his wife sort out any workplace issues, rather than disciplining him, but did not come up with any definitive examples when asked by the tribunal panel.

Earlier, Mr Tunkara had told the tribunal that tendering his resignation was “the most difficult decision he ever had to make”.

He said: “My job was as vital to me as my life. It helped me with everything in my life, my finances, it meant that I could help my family back home.”

Philip Crowe, solicitor for Morrisons, had frequently asked Mr Tunkara why he had waited until February 2013 to resign from his position, when an investigation into the third stage of his grievance procedure was still ongoing. He could not say why he waited.

Mr Crowe also asked Mr Tunkara why, when he had asked for holidays during the last two weeks in August, he had come into work for meetings with managers about Mrs Tunkara’s health. She had been admitted to hospital after working a night shift on August 11, a day she had requested off.

Mr Tunkara said: “I thought that I needed to do that to keep my job. Eventually I lost all confidence and trust in HR and management.” Asked what would have resolved the issue, Mr Tunkara said: “I wanted them to admit they were wrong and apologise.”

Proceeding