Woman fire manager 'suffered discrimination'

Mrs Redman says she was told she lacked experience

A fire service manager failed to gain promotion because she was a woman, an employment tribunal has heard.

Karen Redman, 39, control room manager for the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said a less experienced and less qualified male colleague was appointed to a job she had applied for.

However, the brigade said she did not get the job as senior technical officer because she had never been a firefighter, the employment tribunal in Reading heard.

Karen Redman was also refused a grant to study for a Masters degree - a course which could have led to her promotion. She is now suing the fire authority over discrimination.

'Too pretty'

Mrs Redman, of Thatcham, Berkshire is the highest ranking woman in the Berkshire fire service.

But she was advised by her boss Michael Clement-Green that she was not qualified for 10 advertised posts despite her 20 years of experience.

The tribunal earlier heard Mr Clement-Green told her she was "far too pretty to run a site meeting" - a claim he denied.

Mr Clement-Green, now chief fire officer, decided she lacked the operational experience for roles which involve dealing with staff and welfare issues, the tribunal heard.

Lacked experience

Mrs Redman, who still works at the brigade headquarters in Reading said: "Control room officers like me around the country undertake that role as a matter of course."

She claims she was also denied the chance to go on secondment from her £35,000-a-year job managing the fire control building, staff equipment and mobilising firefighters for emergencies.

Nicholas Baldock, for the local fire authority, said sufficient senior staff with operational experience were needed to take charge of major emergencies.

The tribunal continues.