An offending symbol
UK Christian electrician Colin Atkinson, who won the right to keep displaying a small palm cross in his work van in April, has again been suspended from work.
Atkinson’s employer, Wakefield District Housing Association (WDH), originally suspended him after he would not remove a Christian cross, made from palm leaves, from his work vehicle. He had previously displayed this for 15 years, but WDH acted after receiving an anonymous complaint.
After a public outcry, WDH agreed to let Atkinson continue displaying the cross in his work vehicle, but has now apparently reneged on the agreement. Atkinson’s work vehicle was taken from him; he was told to travel to work by bus, and was moved to an office 16 miles away. Mr Atkinson then filed a complaint and was asked to stay at home pending further investigations.
Andrea Minichiello Williams of the Christian Legal Centre, which is representing Atkinson, said, ‘We will be doing all we can to ensure that WDH is held to account and that Colin is free to express his Christian faith in the workplace’.
