Monkey poster racism claim case thrown out

3:27pm Wednesday 6th July 2005

A black council officer who complained when a monkey poster was placed next to his desk has lost his battle to prove racial harassment.

An employment tribunal decided unanimously that 46-year-old business adviser Everald Brown's claims were unfounded. He may now appeal against the decision.

Mr Brown returned to work at Croydon Council after suffering from stress to find the "racially offensive" image on the wall.

The poster showed a chimpanzee in white shirt, tie and braces with a calculator and phone. A slogan said: "Have you used your brain today?"

He later complained the poster was deeply offensive, discriminatory and racially offensive.

He said he was the only black male member of staff in an office of mainly white women and had been made to feel unwelcome.

Croydon Council and his manager, David Johnston, both denied racial harassment against Mr Brown. The tribunal found there had been difficulties in the working relationship between Mr Brown and his colleagues, but did not believe his race played a part.

In its ruling the panel said: "Croydon Council acted very promptly in removing the poster when it was pointed out to them by the claimant that he found the poster offensive."

Mr Brown, who began his job in the early years and child care section in 2003, is still off work suffering from stress and is on half pay.

He continues to be supported by black members in Unison, a group within the public services union.

Its co-chairman, Ekanem Hines, said: "If Mr Brown hadn't raised this matter, would the poster still be up on the wall? This case raises lots of concerns about how racism is being dealt with in Croydon Council."

A Croydon Council spokesman said: "We are very pleased the tribunal unanimously supported the council's position."