Australian BP worker fired for Hitler memes wins $143,000 compensation

An employee of BP Plc's Australian refinery who was fired last year for mocking management online using a well-known meme of Adolf Hitler has been awarded more than $143,100 in compensation

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An employee of BP Plc's Australian refinery who was fired last year for mocking management online using a well-known meme of Adolf Hitler has been awarded more than A$200,000 ($143,100) in compensation.

BP fired technician Scott Tracey from its Kwinana refinery in January 2019 for breaching its code of conduct after he posted a video to a staff Facebook group using a widely used clip from the movie Der Untergang (Downfall), showing Hitler ranting on the brink of losing World War Two.

Tracey appealed, and the Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled earlier this year that he had been unfairly dismissed, paving the way for him to return to work. And in May, BP lost an appeal in the Federal Court against the FWC ruling.

The FWC, on Monday, awarded Tracey A$201,394 to cover lost earnings.

In a statement on Tuesday BP said it was reviewing the FWC decision.

The video, which the company had said it considered "highly offensive and inappropriate", had captions showing Hitler as an unnamed BP manager enraged about workers rejecting a pay deal.

Tracey had posted the video on a Facebook page for BP's refinery employees and shared it with some workmates.

The Australian Workers Union (AWU), which represented Tracey, welcomed the latest FWC decision.

"While it doesn't make up for the completely unnecessary drama and heartache Mr. Tracey has been dragged through, we are satisfied with the Commission's ruling," AWU Western Australia Secretary Brad Gandy said in a statement.

"In addition to winning the appeal and successfully gaining back our member's job, we have now secured the money our member deserves."

($1 = 1.3976 Australian dollars)

 

(Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)