Shropshire Star

Muller manager made Auschwitz remark, claims driver

A lorry driver working for Muller complained one of her bosses told her she would be "shipped off to Auschwitz" if she took her employers to a tribunal over pay, overtime and holidays disputes.

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Mrs Toni Davenport also alleged the same person told her "to keep her head down and her mouth shut".

The allegations were made against Muller UK & Ireland Group LLP by Mrs Davenport as she made legal claims involving pay, overtime and holidays at Birmingham Employment Tribunal.

The firm, based at Tern Valley Business Park in Market Drayton, is the UK's leading yoghurt manufacturer and employs 6,000 people on 19 sites, and buys milk from hundreds of British farmers.

The tribunal was told that Mrs Davenport's previous employers, Robert Wiseman & Sons, were transferred to the Muller Group and that Mrs Davenport expected the same working conditions. But she complained changes were made to her contract and she became involved in disputes about her pay, overtime and holidays.

She told the tribunal in a written statement that, after being off work, she returned following a preliminary tribunal hearing, to face a comment from one of her bosses in the office.

"He commented across the office: 'You'll be shipped off to Auschwitz if you carry on the way you're going'", she alleged.

Mrs Davenport also said in her statement that the same person told her: "Keep your head down and you mouth shut."

Mrs Davenport complained she was not paid overtime on Mondays and lodged a grievance with the firm. She agreed she accepted a part-time shift on Mondays and Saturdays.

The firm opposed Mrs Davenport's legal claims. They accepted that following reorganisation in 2010 some changes were made.

But Miss Gemma Hanson, Muller's human resources advisor, told the tribunal in a written statement that although Mrs Davenport had worked part-time she was still required to work a minimum of 39 hours a week before she could earn overtime.

Mrs Davenport is now living in Redditch.

The hearing has been listed for several days and tribunal judge Mrs Victoria Dean said she would made a decision at a later date.

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