Fireman ‘sacked for being too fat’
Union call mass meeting to consider action
Published:
A FIREFIGHTER has been given the boot – for being too fat, it was claimed today.
Kevin Ogilvie, 46, was dismissed after 22 years in the job when fire chiefs insisted he wasn’t fit for duty.
Union bosses today slammed the move, saying he should have been moved to another department.
But fire chiefs are standing by the sacking and said he was provided support over a “considerable period of time”.
Less than two years ago, Mr Ogilvie, who was based at the city’s Central Fire Station, was honoured for his long-service by Lord Provost John Reynolds after clocking up 20 years on the job.
And after being sacked he received another certificate from Grampian Fire and Rescue Service to mark his years of service.
The Fire Brigade's Union will now hold a mass meeting in two weeks to discuss the possibility of striking.
FBU secretary, Alan Paterson, claimed it was “discrimination”.
He added: “In management's eyes he doesn't fit the model firefighter's image.
“We think it's discrimination just to sack someone because they are fat.
“The management have decided to terminate his contract because they deem him unsuitable for operational duties.
“Our member is in shock, he just didn't see it going this far.
“I think he may be quite embarrassed about it.
“It's a fitness issue although, rather than redeploy him into a support department, they've taken the easier option of just sacking him on the grounds of incapability without any compensation.”
Mr Ogilvie, was sacked in March. However, some firefighters are understood to support the move if he was unfit to carry out duties.
Grampian Fire and Rescue Area Manager, Andy Couselant, said: “We can confirm a firefighter has been dismissed from the service.
“The dismissal was done by means of a fair process based on a policy which was introduced after consultation with all the representative bodies, including the FBU.
“The firefighter involved was provided with a lot of support and assistance over a considerable period of time in order to enable the individual to perform the physically demanding role of a firefighter, but regrettably that has been unsuccessful.”
Mr Ogilvie, of Aberdeen’s city centre, would not comment.
Readers' Comments
Have you seen the size (and I don't mean height) of some policemen??
Andrew Stephen
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