Name of Assembly Member

[Name of Assembly Member]

GLA
City Hall
The Queen's Walk
London SE1 2AA

[DATE]

Dear [x]

Outsourcing company Sodexo’s treatment of Tube catering manager Petrit Mihaj and attitude to trade unions

I write to highlight the case of trade union rep Petrit Mihaj and to invite you to consider, from his situation, the suitability of global outsourcing giant Sodexo to be awarded new contracts from Transport for London.

Petrit Mihaj worked for Sodexo for 10 years. Ultimately he achieved the post of General Manager in the Catering department (on Sodexo’s contract with London Underground).

Prior to becoming a rep for the RMT transport union, Mr Mihaj had an unblemished work record. However, following organising the workforce on behalf of RMT and achieving recognition at the workplace for the union, Mr Mihaj was subjected to disciplinary action - including a lengthy period of suspension.

Mr Mihaj was undeterred and continued to assist numerous workers suffering poor treatment. These included an older female colleague who was put on a less convenient shift pattern (to the advantage of a younger worker favoured by a manager) and someone who was dismissed as soon as they became a rep.

Unfortunately Mr Mihaj was eventually himself dismissed. He successfully brought claims in the employment tribunal against Sodexo, securing a judgment which recognised that he had been unfairly dismissed for his trade union activities.

At the remedies hearing, Sodexo stated to the tribunal that it would not respect an order to reinstate (ie give Mr Mihaj his job back) or re-engage him (ie appoint Mr Mihaj to a different role). And on that basis the tribunal did not make such an order.

We believe that in appropriate cases, an employment tribunal should not only have the power to order reinstatement/re-engagement, but also have the power to enforce their order.

Please lend your voice to the call for Mr Mihaj to be reinstated and require Transport for London to reconsider its policy of outsourcing its functions.

Thank you for your time and trouble considering this matter.

Yours sincerely,