Ladele decision vindicates actions of her colleagues

Published: 12 March 2010

• UNISON is delighted the Supreme Court has rejected Lillian Ladele’s application for leave to appeal the decision against her made by the Court of Appeal last December.
I am pleased the ultimate findings of the courts are that there was no direct or indirect discrimination or harassment by Unison members against Ms Ladele on the grounds of her religion. It was legitimate for one of our members to treat Ms Ladele no differently from colleagues when appointing her as a civil partnership registrar, and it was permissible for two colleagues to raise concerns that her refusal to carry out civil partnerships was contrary to Islington’s policies.
It has been a difficult and sometimes harrowing time for the three members. They have acted with professionalism and dignity in the face of what was, at times, a vicious propaganda campaign.
Unison thanks the majority of councillors who backed the appeal against the original decision, Liberty for its intervention and the Tribune for its balanced coverage of the case.
JANE DOOLAN
Branch secretary, Islington Unison