Ex-RAF woman sacked over Remembrance Day two-minute silence row

An ex-RAF woman claims she was sacked from her car showroom job for trying to observe a two-minute silence in honour of those killed at war.

Norma Gregory, 57, was suspended on Remembrance Day after just two months in her minimum wage job with motoring giants Arnold Clark.

The mum-of-two was called back for showdown talks with bosses last week only to be told never to come back.

Norma, whose dad George fought in the Second World War, said her sacking came after a female colleague refused to pay a silent tribute at 11 o’clock on November 11.

The two became embroiled in an angry war of words after Norma asked her to turn off a power cleaner.

However, when she refused Norma pushed her in the arm trying to get to the machine. A complaint was lodged and Norma was ordered to go home.

She said: “It was unbelievable that I ended up sacked for just trying to observe the two-minute silence. It was a storm in a teacup. I touched her arm slightly, nothing more.

“My lawyer said I can’t even take them to an employment tribunal because I haven’t been there long enough.”

The former Scottish Water employee had been working at the Arnold Clark showroom in Aberdeen’s Lang Stracht since September.

The branch is one of more than 200 owned by the tycoon who set up the business after leaving the RAF in 1954.

But Norma says she was amazed to discover there were no plans to mark the centenary of the First World War when she arrived at work on Remembrance Day.

She said: “I spoke with the assistant manager at the start of the day to ask what we were doing but he said there was nothing planned.

“I thought it was poor considering what an important day it was and particularly with Sir Arnold’s background in the forces. At 11 o’clock I was in the car valeting bay with a colleague and we were cleaning a car.

“The radio was playing and the presenter said they were going to the news and a two-minute silence would follow. But my colleague kept working despite me asking her to stop.

“I turned off the power washer she was using and then she turned it on again. Then I turned it back off again. This continued for a few seconds before I stood in front of it to stop her turning it back on again.

“When she tried to reach around me I pushed her arm away. She said I couldn’t do that and then the next thing I know I was ordered into the boss’s office.”

Norma claims she was told she couldn’t touch another employee and that she was to be suspended.

Last week she was ordered back in for talks that saw her sacked.

Officials at Arnold Clark’s Glasgow head office admitted the rammy was sparked by the 11 o’clock silence. But they said they had no option but to sack Norma after she raised her hands.

The spokeswoman added: “We won’t comment further but we were aware of Norma’s feelings about Remembrance Day.”

Police Scotland were not called to investigate the fight.