Saturday, July 23, 2011
Airport supervisor suspended for hanging picture of Jesus on staffroom wall
A senior airport supervisor was suspended from his job after he hung a picture of Jesus on a staffroom wall.
Gareth Langmead was escorted from Manchester Airport and suspended from his job after a Muslim colleague complained about the image.
He had found the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - the subject of devotion by many Catholics - in a desk draw while cleaning out an office.
The supervisor found the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - the subject of devotion by many Catholics - in a desk draw while cleaning out an office, and hung it on the wall
Mr Langmead, a 40-year-old Catholic, decided not to throw the picture away but to put it on the wall of the staffroom.
But just days later the team leader in the car parks department at the airport was escorted off the site and suspended from his job.
Catholics around the world share a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which often depicts a heart pierced by a lance and surrounded by a crown of thorns.
Jesus is often shown pointing at the heart with his wounded hands.
Union leaders condemned the decision to suspend the worker and claimed airport bosses had over reacted.
Glyn Platt of Unison said: "The decision to suspend him was an over-reaction - this could have been dealt with informally.
"It would have been more appropriate for someone to have had a quiet word with him, or to ask him to take the picture down if it caused any offence, rather than take any action.
"There are no guidelines on what should or should not be pinned on a wall."
Mr Langmead found the picture in a desk drawer as his department moved offices to new buildings at Manchester Airport.
As a Catholic he felt unable to throw the picture in the bin and instead decided to hang it on the wall of the staffroom.
But it is understood a Muslim worker thought the picture on the wall was a deliberately provocative move and complained.
Mr Langmead was sent home from Manchester Airport while bosses launched an investigation into the complaint.
He was later reinstated without punishment after it was found the act had not been an act of deliberate provocation to other religious faiths.
Mr Platt, his Unison representative, said: "He has been left very upset. He was not trying to cause any offence. We wish this matter could have been handled more sensitively."
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: "We can confirm that a member of staff was suspended pending an investigation into his conduct.
"This investigation was swiftly concluded and the employee has returned to work with a clean record."
He added: "We have agreed with our airport chaplain that he and his team will work with the employees involved to foster a greater level of understanding of each other's beliefs and how this applies to the workplace."
The incident comes a year after a Christian British Airways check-in worker was placed on unpaid leave for wearing a cross at work.
But after the Daily Mail revealed the decision, the airline faced widespread criticism and was forced to reinstate her.
Nadia Eweida later returned to work at Heathrow Airport and the airline eventually agreed to review its uniform policy.
Last month Hindu Amrit Lalji, 43, was sacked from her job as a cleaner and customer relations worker for Eurest, which supplies food and services to BA's VIP lounge at Heathrow after she refused to remove a nose stud claiming it was integral to her religious beliefs.
Gareth Langmead was escorted from Manchester Airport and suspended from his job after a Muslim colleague complained about the image.
He had found the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - the subject of devotion by many Catholics - in a desk draw while cleaning out an office.
The supervisor found the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - the subject of devotion by many Catholics - in a desk draw while cleaning out an office, and hung it on the wallBut just days later the team leader in the car parks department at the airport was escorted off the site and suspended from his job.
Catholics around the world share a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which often depicts a heart pierced by a lance and surrounded by a crown of thorns.
Jesus is often shown pointing at the heart with his wounded hands.
Union leaders condemned the decision to suspend the worker and claimed airport bosses had over reacted.
Glyn Platt of Unison said: "The decision to suspend him was an over-reaction - this could have been dealt with informally.
"It would have been more appropriate for someone to have had a quiet word with him, or to ask him to take the picture down if it caused any offence, rather than take any action.
"There are no guidelines on what should or should not be pinned on a wall."
Mr Langmead found the picture in a desk drawer as his department moved offices to new buildings at Manchester Airport.
As a Catholic he felt unable to throw the picture in the bin and instead decided to hang it on the wall of the staffroom.
But it is understood a Muslim worker thought the picture on the wall was a deliberately provocative move and complained.
Mr Langmead was sent home from Manchester Airport while bosses launched an investigation into the complaint.
He was later reinstated without punishment after it was found the act had not been an act of deliberate provocation to other religious faiths.
Mr Platt, his Unison representative, said: "He has been left very upset. He was not trying to cause any offence. We wish this matter could have been handled more sensitively."
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: "We can confirm that a member of staff was suspended pending an investigation into his conduct.
"This investigation was swiftly concluded and the employee has returned to work with a clean record."
He added: "We have agreed with our airport chaplain that he and his team will work with the employees involved to foster a greater level of understanding of each other's beliefs and how this applies to the workplace."
The incident comes a year after a Christian British Airways check-in worker was placed on unpaid leave for wearing a cross at work.
But after the Daily Mail revealed the decision, the airline faced widespread criticism and was forced to reinstate her.
Nadia Eweida later returned to work at Heathrow Airport and the airline eventually agreed to review its uniform policy.
Last month Hindu Amrit Lalji, 43, was sacked from her job as a cleaner and customer relations worker for Eurest, which supplies food and services to BA's VIP lounge at Heathrow after she refused to remove a nose stud claiming it was integral to her religious beliefs.
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Presenter Miley Cyrus arrived on the red carpet at the 2011 Grammy awards clad in Roberto Cavalli. Compared to Gaga and Nicki Minaj, Cyrus looked very toned down despite her zebra print gown. Seeing as I expected Cyrus to show up in cut-offs and cowboy boots, this outfit is a pleasant surprise. The print is typical Cavalli, but not obnoxious. And judging by the dress’s cut, I’d say it’s age-appropriate.
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