Pregnancy sackings 'an outrage'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.(First Edition)
THOUSANDS of service women, sacked for becoming pregnant, were illegally forced out of their jobs 'simply for being female', it was claimed at an Employment Appeals Tribunal yesterday.
Careers, some of them distinguished, were left in 'tatters', because they had performed 'the most natural function of having children'.
Patrick Elias QC, representing seven of the women at a test hearing at which the Ministry of Defence is appealing against the grounds used to compensate them - some of the awards ran into six figures - said the suffering they had experienced was a 'true outrage' of the 20th century.
He told the tribunal in London: 'These cases involved admitted unlawful conduct by an arm of the state, depriving women of their careers.'
Since the MoD's admission that it breached European law in sacking women simply because they had conceived, more than 2,000 claims have been heard by tribunals. The fate of all these, and many still to be heard, hang on the outcome of the hearing before Mr Justice Morison and two lay members, due to end on Monday.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments