Disability Charity Reinstates Worker It Sacked for Palestine Solidarity

A prominent disability charity has U-turned on sacking an employee for protesting against the proscription of Palestine Action after Novara Media revealed she was dismissed on the grounds of protecting the charity’s “brand reputation”.

Chloe – who declined to give her surname, citing concerns about future employment prospects – was sacked in November after failing to inform her employer, Sense, that she had been arrested for taking part in a protest against the proscription of the non-violent direct action group Palestine Action.

Sense told Chloe that her arrest could cause “serious reputational issues” and that the charity had to consider its “brand reputation and hold and be seen to hold a neutral position”.

She appealed the decision and the sacking has been rescinded. She has instead been given a final written warning.

In a letter from a compliance director informing Chloe of the outcome of her hearing, she was told: “The original decision that you had breached your contract of employment and that this constituted gross misconduct remains unchanged. However, at your appeal hearing you provided new information to mitigate your reason for not advising us of your arrest and having considered that information I have changed the sanction to a final written warning.”

Chloe told Novara Media: “Thank you to everyone that helped me get my job back. I’m blown away by the massive support I received.

“The government is punishing us for protesting. But we aren’t just punished by being arrested. We aren’t just punished by being thrown in a custody cell. We aren’t just punished by having the label of ‘terrorism’ stuck to us. We are also being punished by having our jobs taken away. This is what the government wants – more reasons for us not to protest. More reasons for us not to hold a sign, or wave a flag, or speak our mind.

“I hope my case sets an example for other employers. Thank you to Sense for doing the right thing and reinstating me.”

A spokesperson for the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said Chloe’s reinstatement came “after a powerful show of practical solidarity from the IWGB Charity Workers Branch and our friends”.

They added: “We welcome Sense’s decision to reverse Chloe’s dismissal. This is a significant victory for workers and for solidarity with Palestine. In a sector where we deal with those most impacted by injustice on a daily basis, working to provide support and compassion, it is unconscionable that we are penalised when we take political action to confront such injustice.

“Let this victory also be a wake-up call for the sector: in a climate of growing authoritarianism and attacks on vulnerable people everywhere, organisations may think they are safe when they keep quiet. They are not and we, their workers, won’t let them cower in the corner.

“Would your boss try and sack you for doing the right thing? Join a union, get organised, and make sure they won’t dare to.”

A Sense spokesperson said: “We do not normally comment on individual employment matters. However, as some details of this case are already in the public domain, we believe it is important to provide clarification.

“We ask all employees to inform us if they are arrested so that we can assess any potential safeguarding, regulatory, and organisational risks. This is particularly important because our employees are entrusted with the care and support of disabled people with complex needs, and our priority is always their safety and wellbeing.

“In this case, the employee’s failure to inform us was a breach of their contract. However, having reviewed all information presented at their appeal we have concluded that the original sanction will be moderated with their employment reinstated with immediate effect.

“We remain committed to applying our policies fairly and consistently, and to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding.”