Waitress wins £9,000 payout in racism case

A FORMER waitress has won a £9,000 out-of-court payout from a Blackpool hotel which had been found guilty of racial discrimination.

Thandi Lubimbi had refused an earlier offer of £1,000 after a Manchester tribunal ruled against the Viking Hotel in January.

Miss Lubimbi, who now works as an assistant cook in London, told the tribunal she had been persistently taunted about her colour at the 234-bedroom hotel, where she worked between April 1991 and December 1992.

She said she complained about verbal insults to the hotel's management, but her complaints were ignored.

The final settlement was reached last week in advance of a second hearing, which was due to take place later this month to award damages. The hotel declined to comment.