A Birmingham bus driver complained he was unfairly sacked after driving through red traffic lights in Dudley while giving a work colleague a lift in a single-decker.
Abdul Jabbar, 58, of Dudley had been employed with an unblemished 37-year record by National Express West Midlands (NEWM).
He made legal claims for unfair dismissal and race discrimination at Birmingham Employment Tribunal.
The tribunal heard that there was no collision. Mr Jabbar complained he was unfairly dismissed after saying other drivers who had made errors, did not lose their jobs. He also complained he was ‘singled out’ because of his race.
Mr Jabbar was dismissed after admitting “losing concentration shortly before crossing the lights.”
NEWM rejected Mr Jabbar’s claims and denied race discrimination.
For the driver, Jonathan Forrester, compared his situation to that of bus drivers involved in previous incidents which he alleged were more serious. “In some cases drivers were given a final warning and not dismissed,” he said.
Replying to tribunal judge Glyn Lloyd, NEWM says it has a system where a driver, accused of making mistake, could be re-trained, but did not believe Mr Jabbar would have benefited from it.
Mr Lloyd will make a written decision at a later date.
