TWO WOMEN who were discriminated against by the chief executive of the local office of the Racial Equality Council, are calling for his resignation.

Clita Johnrose and Shabana Mann had their complaint of being discriminated against by way of victimisation against Preston and Western Lancashire Racial Equality Council (PWLREC), and its chief executive, Faruk Desai, upheld by an employment tribunal held in Manchester in October and March.

The tribunal also upheld a complaint by Miss Mann that PWLREC board member Angela Ruddock, director of human resources at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, had sexually discriminated against her.

Now Miss Mann and Miss Johnrose, both solicitors, are demanding Mr Desai and Mrs Ruddock resign from their positions at the organisation.

The tribunal found that Mr Desai had victimised the women after they took out a grievance procedure over changes in their workload which was not reflected in pay.

The women described his attitude to them in the office as "hostile" which the tribunal accepted.

After an internal grievance hearing, Mrs Ruddock, who was chairman of the grievance panel, said to Miss Mann: "It is not as though you have been raped or assaulted."

The tribunal deemed this to be an act of sexual discrimination, but recognised this was an isolated incident.

Miss Johnrose, 37, of Cottam Avenue, Preston, who now works for the Immigration Advisory Service, said: "The Racial Equality Council aims to eradicate victimisation and discrimination, this is a case of hypocrisy and double standards."

The PWLREC, which is based at the Town Hall in Preston, is standing by Mr Desai and Mrs Ruddock.

Chairman Gulab Singh, said: "The board has fully discussed the facts of the matter and the outcome of the tribunal, and fully endorses and supports the chief executive's role, there is no question of his resignation."

He added: "We fully endorse and support Angela Ruddock. She is still a board member and she has the vote of confidence of her fellow board members."

Mr Desai said: "I don't agree with the findings of the tribunal, what actions I took were to protect the interests of the organisation and other staff."

Miss Mann and Miss Johnrose have also called for Mrs Ruddock to resign from her post at the trust

Miss Mann, 27, of Stanfold Street, Blackburn, who now works for Rochdale Law Centre, said: "I think Mrs Ruddock and the hospital should seriously be considering her position."

Mrs Ruddock was unavailable for comment.

Tony Curtis, chief executive of the trust, said: "Angela's work with PWLREC is done on a voluntary basis, which the trust actively encourages as it helps to inform human resources practice.

"This matter has nothing to do with the trust or me as chief executive and any involvement would be inappropriate."

The outcome of the Employment Tribunal stated: "The tribunal was satisfied that Mrs Ruddock did not discriminate against the applicants on the grounds of their sex in any other way, that this was an isolated incident and the comment was made in the heat of the moment after a particularly fraught grievance hearing. The level of compensation for this act of sex discrimination would take into account those mitigating factors."

All other complaints of discrimination on the grounds of sex were dismissed against the PWLREC, Mr Desai, and Mrs Ruddock.

The organisation was ordered to pay arrears of remuneration to Miss Johnrose of £766 after tax.

The tribunal also ordered, by consent, that PWLREC, pay compensation of £4,000 to Miss Mann, and £6,000 to Miss Johnrose.

An appeal by Miss Mann with regard to her pension rights is being considered by the president of the Employment Appeal Tribunal.