Christian who refused to work on Sunday loses employment tribunal (From Wimbledon Guardian)
Contact us: Got a photo? Text SLPICS to 80360, click to upload your story or call
020 8722 6333
Christian who refused to work on Sunday loses employment tribunal
11:33am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in News By Hardeep Matharu
Celestina Mba, 57, has explained she needs the whole Sunday off to properly observe her Christian faith
A devout Christian who refused to work on a Sunday has lost her discrimination case after a judge ruled it “was not a core component of Christian faith”. Celestina Mba, of Mitcham, had claimed Merton Council unlawfully discriminated against her by asking her to work on Sundays at the Brightwell children's centre in Morden.
But, in giving the ruling at the London South employment Tribunal this morning, Judge Heather Willams QC said Merton Council did not promise Miss Mba would have to work on Sundays and having an entire Sunday off work was not essential.
She said: “While the claimants belief is deeply held it is not a core component of Christian faith.”
Miss Mba said: “I am really sad for Merton Council because they have removed somebody who would have made a difference to the people who use Bright well’s services, the children and the parents.
“I was called the sunshine of Brightwell so they have removed the sunshine that was there.”
The 57-year-old, who left her job as a residential care officer at the home, which provides respite for children with disabilities in June 2010, added: “The activities I do on Sunday including teaching, visiting people in hospitals and prisons is a part of worship. For me Sunday is about worshipping god, empowering and encouraging others. It is not just about going to the service.”
Merton Council's director of children schools and families, Yvette Stanley, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of the tribunal.
"As a local authority, we have a duty to ensure our children with disabilities who need weekend care are supported by carers who are familiar with their specific needs."
What do you think? Let us know by leaving a comment below, tweeting @WimbledonNews or email: newsdesk@wimbledonguardian.co.uk.
Comments(14)
Tuffers
says...
3:29pm Thu 23 Feb 12
SarahOX14
says...
4:01pm Thu 23 Feb 12
David.I
says...
6:34pm Thu 23 Feb 12
How can the Judge say what the core values of her faith is? Or any ones faith.
If this was another religion I'm sure this wouldn't happen.
@SarahOX14 Please tell me what this has to do with God's view on children's care? If you don't know 'her god' what makes you think you can answer for him?
Keep your presumptions to yourself.
JohnnyDale
says...
1:12am Fri 24 Feb 12
"she already asked to have Sundays off when she excepted the job."
She signed a contract stating that she was required to work on Sundays. Her employer (foolishly) allowed to get out of this for a while.
Her employer (again foolishly) tried to compromise with her by saying she could have time off to go to church in the morning then come in afterwards, but of course this wasn't good enough for her because she's "special".
"If this was another religion I'm sure this wouldn't happen."
You are of course wrong here too. Try looking up the case Cherfi v G4S Security Services Ltd.
That case also quite rightly upheld that nobody should get special treatment regardless of which particular collection of puerile drivel they subscribe to.
David.I
says...
1:36am Fri 24 Feb 12
If she was on the rota for Sunday it would have been the primary reason for the verdict.
Apparently its “was not a core component of Christian faith”!
This is rubbish when people are willing to take your shift! Unless that is not in the contract why couldn't this be done?
Was she the only person who had to work on that day, I doubt it.
Didn't you read that she doesn't just go to a morning service and go home or did you miss that part.
This is unreasonable period!
David.I
says...
2:57am Fri 24 Feb 12
If she was on the rota for Sunday it would have been the primary reason for the verdict.
Apparently its “was not a core component of Christian faith”!
This is rubbish when people are willing to take your shift! Unless that is not in the contract why couldn't this be done?
Was she the only person who had to work on that day, I doubt it.
Didn't you read that she doesn't just go to a morning service and go home or did you miss that part.
This is unreasonable period!
JohnnyDale
says...
5:47am Fri 24 Feb 12
No I haven't. However I have read the following extract from the Judge's ruling .... "There was no express agreement ever arrived at by the parties that the claimant would never have to work on Sundays. On the contrary, she was contracted to work on Sundays." (from http://www.wimbledon
guardian.co.uk/news/
9550898.UPDATE__Reac
tion_from_religious_
discrimination_tribu
nal/)
I know facts don't mean a lot to the likes of you, but please remember that in the real world, outside your church, they're what matter.
"This is unreasonable period!"
No it would be unreasonable to give this woman time off to attend her cult meetings without letting everyone else have whatever day off they might want to pursue their own hobbies. I'm sure there are plenty of football supporters who would like Saturdays off.
moodydaniel
says...
7:43am Fri 24 Feb 12
What's really amazing however is that God gave Mrs Mba the foresight to know her colleagues would happily cover every Sunday before she'd even signed her work contract and met them. Surely this miracle should be the real news story.
lordofzombies
says...
8:00am Fri 24 Feb 12
trasie
says...
12:15pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Bobincork
says...
2:47pm Fri 24 Feb 12
MartinBudd
says...
5:19pm Sun 26 Feb 12
MartinBudd
says...
5:29pm Sun 26 Feb 12
As any Sunday School child could tell her, the Ten Commandments are a core component of Christian faith. This fourth commandment says: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ..." Exodus 20:8. Jesus himself said "I come not to abolish the law but to fulfil it." Now we have someone whose job one would have thought is to uphold law - apparently advocating abolition of a law. If she thinks the fourth commandment need not be kept, then does she think the relatively lesser sixth and eighth commandments - refraining from killing and stealing are not a core component of the Christian faith?
Paul Spence says...
2:59pm Thu 23 Feb 12