A Birmingham bus driver who won a legal claim for unfair dismissal after driving through red traffic lights has withdrawn his case just as he was expected to receive an award.
Abdul Jabbar, 60, of Dudley, had been due to attend a Birmingham Employment Tribunal remedy hearing after winning his unfair dismissal claim against West Midlands Travel Ltd, trading as National Express West Midlands.
A tribunal spokesman said: “The claimant has withdrawn from the hearing and we do not know why. It appears the claimant and the respondent may have reached an agreement prior to the remedy hearing date, but such agreements are made in private and the tribunal is under no obligation to be told what is involved.”
Mr Jabbar was sacked for gross misconduct after being employed with an unblemished 37-year record by the respondents.
Further legal claims for age and race discrimination made against the respondents were rejected by tribunal judge Mr Glyn Lloyd at the earlier hearing.
The respondents had opposed the legal claims and had denied the race and age discrimination allegations.
The tribunal was told that Mr Jabbar was taking another driver to work in a single deck bus when he drove across red lights in King Street, Dudley.
There was no collision but Mr Jabbar complained he was unfairly dismissed after pointing out that other drivers who had made errors did not lose their jobs.
He also complained he was “singled out” because of his race.
Mr Lloyd said at the previous hearing that Mr Jabbar had accused the respondents who opposed the claims of “concealing the true discriminatory reason for his dismissal.”
Mr Lloyd said at the time that there had been a five-second momentary lapse of concentration.
He said that the dismissal had been outside the range of reasonable responses.
