BMW ‘racist’ back at work
‘Employee called blacks the k-word’
Workers at the BMW Rosslyn plant in Pretoria North are fuming after a white colleague accused of using the “k-word” on three female black employees went “unpunished”.
On June 9, a white artisan, whose name is known to Sowetan, left his food in a microwave to warm it up. When he returned, his food had been nicely removed and placed on top of the microwave as the time he had set had elapsed.
But instead of appreciating the act of courtesy as the use of the microwave is shared among staff members, he got agitated and used the “k-word” on three female employees.
The employees didn’t report the matter on the day as it was a weekend. The following week the three ladies related the matter to their colleagues, and anger filled all black employees who demanded that the man be suspended.
Management obliged and he was immediately suspended. But on Monday, workers were stunned when the man reported for duty.
“Nobody told us what happened during the disciplinary process and what the outcome of the process was,” said one of the workers. “He came and started work without us knowing what had happened. Some of the workers asked to know what happened and were told that he had been cleared.
“How can a person insult our colleagues and the company simply welcomes him back as if he has done nothing [wrong]?”
He said a worker at the plant once used the “k-word” on a colleague and was fired.
BMW Group SA admitted it investigated the incident. “In accordance with BMW’s policy, the associate was immediately suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Witnesses statements were taken as part of the investigation, which was then followed by a disciplinary hearing,” said Alexander Parker, manager of business communications at the company.
“The hearing afforded all parties the opportunity to put forward their version of events via an impartial process. The outcome of the disciplinary hearing was that the associate was found not guilty due to inconsistencies and hearsay presented in evidence.”
He said it was based on these internal investigations that the worker has returned to work.
Parker also confirmed that BMW had fired an employee in the past for using the “k-word” at the same plant.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) was infuriated by the latest case.
Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi said: “Numsa is shocked and dismayed that a rabid racist like him has been brought back. What is even more shocking is that BMW SA is willing to ignore this and they want workers to proceed as if nothing has happened.
“As Numsa, we have demanded the transcripts for the hearing and we have every intention of appealing.
“In the meantime, we will ensure that every corner of the world knows that BMW SA is actively protecting and rewarding a rabid racist in the workplace. We demand that he be removed.”