Rail Signaller Wins £70,000 After Wrongful ‘Nazi Food Thrower’ Accusation
A railway signaller has been awarded £70,000 for unfair dismissal and breach of contract following claims he called a cleaner a “Nazi food thrower.” The Reading Employment Tribunal ruled there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations, which arose from a dispute over workplace kitchen rules.
Dispute Over Kitchen Policy
The incident took place at the Thames Valley Signalling Centre in Didcot, which oversees train operations from London Paddington to the Welsh border. The centre employs a cleaning agency tasked with discarding any unnamed or undated food on Fridays, a policy that had reportedly caused ongoing tension among staff.
The Accusation and Investigation
- Alleged Remark: Michael Knox, 61, was accused of using the offensive phrase after discovering some of his son’s food on the kitchen counter.
- Network Rail’s Response: Mr. Knox, who was also a representative of the RMT union, was dismissed for what Network Rail deemed “gross misconduct.”
- Union Backlash: Following his dismissal, RMT members voted in favor of strike action, calling the decision unfair.
Tribunal Findings
During the tribunal, Mr. Knox maintained he did not direct any offensive remarks at the cleaner. While he admitted being upset and using strong language—calling the situation “a f****** disgrace”—the tribunal ruled there was no evidence he had uttered the phrase “Nazi food thrower.”
Tribunal Statement: “We find, on the evidence, that any inappropriate words said were said for the benefit of those in the operations room, rather than directly to the cleaner.”
Compensation Award
- Breach of Contract: £8,700
- Basic Award: £15,500
- Unfair Dismissal Compensation: £52,000
The total award of £70,000 reflects the tribunal’s conclusion that Mr. Knox was unfairly dismissed and did not say what he was accused of saying.
RMT Demands Reinstatement
An RMT spokesperson called for Mr. Knox’s immediate return to his role at Network Rail, warning of possible industrial action if the company does not comply. Network Rail has not yet publicly commented on the tribunal’s decision.
