Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Bullying and harassmentEmployee relationsEquality, diversity and inclusionLatest NewsEmployment tribunals

London Underground accused of institutional racism against white employee

by John Charlton 15 Oct 2008
by John Charlton 15 Oct 2008

London Underground has been accused of institutional racism against white staff after an Irishman won the latest ‘Jellygate’ case.

Transport for London (TfL), which runs London Underground, was accused of institutional racism by a union official after an employment tribunal ruled that a station supervisor had suffered racial discrimination.

Tom Mahoney, a manager at Caledonian Road station, won his case after the tribunal decided that London Underground had discriminated against him on the grounds of his race after he complained he had been intimidated by a black colleague, Daniel Jean-Marie.

Mahoney had alleged that his accusations of bullying were not acted upon because he is white.

His union representative, Kevin Byrne, of the RMT, said: “This is a systemic problem that could be seen as institutional racism against white employees.”

But a TfL spokeswoman said: “We take very seriously any accusation of discrimination, and always strive to treat all employees fairly and equally. London Underground is a very diverse organisation and our employee surveys show high and improving employee satisfaction.

“We will be studying carefully the full details before deciding how to proceed,” she added.

Mahoney told the tribunal that Jean-Marie burst into his office and started taking photographs of him which, the Irishman feared, would be used to smear him as a racist. “I was very shaken. I felt it was to intimidate me and I became very concerned about my personal safety and that of my family.”

The tribunal said London Underground managers’ approach to the case was “sceptical and resistant”, and that the complaint was dismissed after a “sub-standard” investigation. It recommended that the “long-serving and loyal employee” should be given an official apology on top of the £6,000 he was awarded for injury to feelings.

Jean-Marie was paid £125,000 in 2007 by London Underground in an out-of-court settlement after he lost a high-profile case against two other Tube workers, who he accused of racially aggravated harassment after he claimed they bit the heads off black jelly babies in front of him.

The two workers, Vic Cooney and Carlos Rozza, were cleared in a 2006 court case.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

After the 2005 London bombings, Mahoney led 500 passengers to safety along Tube tracks. He has 25 years’ service with London Underground.

The RMT’s Byrne has written to London Underground boss Tim O’Toole and London mayor Boris Johnson asking for a meeting to discuss the issues raised by the case.

John Charlton

previous post
Unemployment in UK continues to rise
next post
Government to spend £100m to support staff at risk of redundancy

You may also like

Nestlé sacks CEO over ‘undisclosed’ romantic affair

2 Sep 2025

Personnel Today Awards 2025 shortlist: Health and wellbeing

2 Sep 2025

Deloitte to hire 1,500 graduates and apprentices

2 Sep 2025

Airbus strikes postponed after new pay offer

1 Sep 2025

Free childcare expansion beset with recruitment challenges

1 Sep 2025

Business confidence grows to post-Budget peak

1 Sep 2025

Dental nurse pushed out by rude behaviour awarded...

1 Sep 2025

Warship deal with Norway secures 4,000 jobs

1 Sep 2025

Decision to sack man for Michael Jackson noises...

29 Aug 2025

P&O Ferries boss who steered 800 sackings steps...

29 Aug 2025

  • Work smart – stay well: Avoid unnecessary pain with centred ergonomics SPONSORED | If you often notice...Read more
  • Elevate your L&D strategy at the World of Learning 2025 SPONSORED | This October...Read more
  • How to employ a global workforce from the UK (webinar) WEBINAR | With an unpredictable...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise