May 12, 2010
A female firefighter who claims she endured years of abuse after being “singled out and isolated” has landed an out-of-court settlement just two days into her tribunal hearing.
Kate Ellis, who featured in local PR campaigns encouraging women to enter the fire service, was the only female at her Hampshire base.
The 47-year-old, who fulfilled a childhood dream in becoming a firefighter, claimed she was regularly subject to sexual discrimination and sexual harassment resulting in constructive unfair dismissal after regular confrontations with management.
At one point, bullying became so severe that Ms Ellis claimed she slept with her Station Manager, Mark Butler, in a bid to win favour and end the abuse.
Before reaching a settlement early on in her scheduled Reading Tribunal, Ms Ellis revealed how management would not allow her to drive fire engines due to her gender whilst making broadly inappropriate comments about other women.
"Mark Butler said he could never totally rely on a female firefighter,” she told the tribunal. “He said if I was in the crew he would count it as five plus one. He said I would give up too easily."
In a statement released this week, Kingsclere Fire Station in Hampshire confirmed the settlement, the financial details of which are undisclosed, stating: "The claim for sex discrimination, sexual harassment and constructive unfair dismissal from a former employee was settled to the mutual satisfaction of the claimant and the service.
"The claim settlement is a private matter between the claimant and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and, as such, we are unable to disclose further information."
