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News Latest News Man losses Job over Dreadlocks
News Latest News Man losses Job over Dreadlocks
Man losses Job over Dreadlocks |
| News - Latest |
| Written by Glen Crofskey |
Dreadlocks cost my job says meter readerELECTRICITY giant TransAlta is facing a court battle over allegations it caused a Wellington meter reader to lose his job because he had dreadlocks.
Glenn Rankin, 29, was employed as a meter reader by Kiwimail Group, which does meter reading for TransAlta. Mr Rankin alleges that after he entered into his contract, TransAlta instructed Kiwimail to dismiss him on the sole basis that it did not like his Dreadlocks hairstyle.
 He had been referred to the job by employment agency Manpower. He is claiming $7500 for vexation, inconvenience, interference with the right to work, humiliation, distress and loss of dignity. The case, to be heard in Lower Hutt District Court, has yet to be given a hearing date.
Mr Rankin, who wears his shoulder-length dreadlocks tied back, said he was stunned by the whole affair. "One minute I was starting a new job, the next I was in my car heading home trying to work out what happened," he said.
"We have a member of Parliament who wears Dreadlocks and yet TransAlta wouldn't even let me read meters . . . it's just ridiculous."
TransAlta spokesman Nigel Morris said the company would not comment because the issue was before the courts. However, in a statement of defence from lawyer Robert Towner, the company denies that it induced or persuaded Kiwimail to dismiss Mr Rankin on learning he had dreadlocks.
Kiwimail chief executive Bob Mackie said Mr Rankin had been employed on a daily basis by Manpower. He understood that Mr Rankin had de-registered himself from Manpower when he found full employment.
Asked if there had been concerns about his dreadlocks hairstyle, he said: "TransAlta may have had concerns, but I don't know that for sure."
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| Last Updated on Saturday, 17 April 2010 22:13 |
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