A Dundee graduate who won a compensation fight after being illegally blocked from promotion by an Italian university has secured support from the Commons.
David Petrie has worked for nearly 30 years at the University of Verona, as an English language lecturer.
Mr Petrie, Robert Hill and David Newbold were awarded 6000 euros in damages plus interest and 5000 euros legal costs for being barred from competing for promoted university posts. Mr Petrie, who chairs the Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy, has gained the support of Edinburgh MP Mark Lazarowicz who tabled an Early Day Motion in parliament.
Mr Petrie said, “He lost no time in telling me he would be contacting Mr Lidington, UK Minister for Europe. This, on the eve of our meeting with Mr Lidington, is a welcome boost to our campaign for equal treatment.”
Mr Lazarowicz on Wednesday said the treatment of Mr Petrie and his colleagues has been outrageous. “The dossier of individual experiences which he and his association have put together highlights the trauma that many lecturers have had to experience over many years,” he said. “They have been waiting far too long for justice.”
Italy has been found to be illegitimately discriminating on the grounds of nationality a record seven times in the European Court of Justice.