Welder waits on appeal case

Welder Suzanne Bunning claims work duties caused her miscarriage

A female welder whose claims that her family firm drove her out were rejected by an employment tribunal has been told she will have to wait for the outcome of her appeal.

Suzanne Bunning took on her estranged father, uncle and aunt in a second legal battle over her contention that she suffered sexual discrimination and unfair constructive dismissal while working for agricultural manufacturer GT Bunning.

The 28-year-old claims the firm's decision to make her continue with manual duties led to the miscarriage of her first child.

An employment tribunal appeal panel sitting in Shrewsbury on Thursday reserved judgment following a three-day hearing.

Miss Bunning, who lived in Ely, Cambridgeshire, but has since moved to Llanfyllin, Welshpool, was represented by her accountant partner, Tom Fletcher, 40, who said the couple were confident they would win the battle after losing the first tribunal last year.

'A two-year nightmare'

He said: "The chairman did indicate that there would be remedy on our part, but now we will just have to wait and see."

Ms Bunning, who is now eight months pregnant, sat just yards away from her father John Bunning, uncle Robin and aunt Doreen, with whom she has no contact, during the hearing.

Mr Fletcher said: "It has been a two-year nightmare. Suzanne is in touch with her mother to a degree. She has been informed of Suzanne's pregnancy and has been in touch about how she is progressing, but that is about it."

During the appeal, Miss Bunning described how breaking the news that she was going to have a child to her family on 29 September 2001 was "the only happy day of my pregnancy".

She had joined the family firm in Gressenhall, near Dereham, in March 1999, and was considered one of the best welders in the male-dominated workshop.

The chairman did indicate that there would be remedy on our part, but now we will just have to wait and see. Tom Fletcher, representing Ms Bunning

But relations with her father, aunt and uncle - who run the business - soured when she asked to be moved from her welding job in the workshop to lighter duties amid concerns that heavy lifting and gas emissions would harm her baby.

However, the family insisted she continue in the workshop after a workplace risk assessment suggested it was safe to do so.

After pleading with her father, Ms Bunning was moved into the stores but claims she was still working 12-hour days, and continuing to lift goods.

Ms Bunning told the tribunal how she was "totally horrified and scared" that she was expected to continue with manual work and that she felt the firm "could not be trusted with the health of my baby".

She miscarried on 20 November last year and resigned on 5 December 2001.