British Indian worker Parmjit Bassi wins race harassment case against Network Rail after EDL leaflet put in boots

A British Indian Network Rail worker has successfully won a race harassment case after an anti-Islamic English Defense League (EDL) leaflet was left in his locker.

Parmjit Bassi, who is not a Muslim, was subjected to a racist attack after a leaflet asking “what individuals are doing to protect their children from Islam” was placed among his belongings.

The railway worker faced further abuse after colleagues published a newspaper page detailing a stabbing attack on his luggage, implying he was responsible for a high-profile stabbing.

Mr Bassi is now set to receive compensation following the employment tribunal’s decision against Network Rail.

The court concluded that although Mr. Bassi did not follow Islam, the actions constituted “blatant fraud” against his race.

It also found Network Rail managers had a “laissez-faire attitude” to events.

Mr Bassi, who had worked as a track worker for Network Rail at its Eastleigh depot in Hants since 1999, had a strained relationship with colleagues.

Southampton Employment Tribunal heard Mr Bassi reported it to his manager after finding the EDL leaflet inside his boots in November 2018.

The manager told the court that Mr Bassi did not want any action taken and that it would be impossible to find a culprit.

But Mr Bassi said he was “shocked that the leaflet was left this way and worried that no one was following it up”.

The tribunal concluded that Network Rail’s “laissez-faire attitude” to the incident was “very difficult to understand” and the manager accepted that, in hindsight, more should have been done.

The court said: “It should have been clear. [Mr Bassi] He was being ostracized and something had to be done.

“Then, at the time the leaflet was placed in the file, there was an act that the Court considered to be serious. [Mr Bassi’s] boat. This was another manifestation by someone or some body within the team that they didn’t want this. [Mr Bassi] at work and there is a very clear racist message in it.

“The pressure had been increased significantly. The court does not take into account the fact that the leaflet was about the perceived dangers of Islam. [Mr Bassi’s] religion made any difference.

“[Mr Bassi] it was simply lumped in with what the literature purveyor perceived as a dangerous ‘other’. The court is quite certain that this was a clear act of racial harassment/intimidation. [Mr Bassi] as part of an ongoing campaign by a colleague or colleagues.

“On the evidence before us, this was the first time race had played a role. Doing nothing was poor governance and only strengthened the position of the tyrants at the expense of getting stronger. [Mr Bassi].”

Mr Bassi took annual leave to get away from the environment but soon after his return in January he again became the victim of racist abuse.

Two national newspapers headlined ‘Stabbed Nine Times’ and a note written in marker pen reading ‘It was Parm’ were found in the office.

One was found with a knife in a kitchen drawer and the other was also found in Mr Bassi’s boot.

He was “shocked and saddened to be targeted and bullied again” once again.

The court found that Mr Bassi’s feeling that he was not welcome was “entirely understandable and correct”.

His manager “felt he had to take action to protect his own welfare” and was sent home on full pay “for his own welfare”, but was not consulted on whether this was what he wanted.

He was later seconded to work on the Eastleigh signaling team, but this was decided without his input.

Mr. Bassi relocated and continued to look for more suitable employment, but he struggled in his role and was eventually dismissed in April 2021.

He appealed the decision but it was upheld and he took Network Rail to the Southampton Employment Tribunal with a number of claims; Among these, claims of racist harassment and unfair dismissal were also successful.

Judge Gary Self concluded: “When [Mr Bassi] Since it was said that the perpetrators against whom allegations of racist behavior were made could not be identified, no action was taken.

“[Mr Bassi] He claims this indicates less favorable treatment and argues that he was not required to switch departments because of his race, not as a result of false allegations.

“Doing nothing was poor governance and only strengthened the position of the tyrants. [Mr Bassi].

“We accept on the balance of probabilities that the documents were left for delivery. [Mr Sing Bassi] to find.

“This leaflet comes from an organization known to have racist views, and in the context of such a document being placed in the hands of a British Asian man, we consider this to be a clear ploy against Islam, even though it is a leaflet attacking Islam. [Mr Bassi] and his/her race/colour.

“We have heard no evidence from the person who placed the leaflet and have concluded that the purpose of doing so was to have the prohibited effect.”

The labor judge also found that the worker had been subjected to racist harassment due to newspaper clippings left in his locker.