A former Dundee parking manager is taking the city council to an employment tribunal in a potentially explosive case which could cost the local authority a six-figure sum in compensation.
James Owusu, who was one of Dundee’s most senior parking officers and who became vice-chairman of the British Parking Association (Scotland), claims he was subjected to years of mistreatment by colleagues at Dundee City Council.
The tribunal is set to take place over 10 days in October and November and Mr Owusu will cite several top names in the council as being involved in his case from 2007 until his dismissal in April last year.
In documents obtained by The Courier, Mr Owusu says he was “singled out for unfair treatment” and persecuted for being “different” because of his strong Nigerian accent.
He said: “But for being a black male, I can see no reason for my long-term appalling treatment at the hands of Dundee City Council.”
He is claiming unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, direct racial discrimination, racial harassment and victimisation.
Pre-hearing documents submitted to the tribunal describe a concerted campaign to smear his name, with senior officers involved in investigating several claims against him.
One parking officer in particular led the campaign, he states, which resulted in disciplinary procedures against Mr Owusu.
He claims some colleagues called him derogatory names, while others informed him that workmates were actively plotting behind his back in a “bullying and smear campaign” and organising a petition against him in an attempt to undermine his position.
One colleague informed him that it was the “worst case of back-stabbing and office politics he had ever experienced in his working life”, while others were “challenging me, showing insubordination and threatening to report me” to (head of transportation) Neil Gellatly.
That, he states, “mirrored their bullying gang leader’s own practice”.
Mr Owusu said complaints were made about him to former director of transportation Mike Galloway and Mr Gellatly, which ultimately led to his dismissal.
He raises issues of whistleblowing he made in 2011, in respect of “corruption” relating to the council’s recruitment and selection policy.
He states he was offered a “deal” to leave the council, which he refused. This led, he states, to “extreme measures to get rid of me”.
He was eventually dismissed for “gross misconduct” a move he claims was engineered by those who campaigned against him.