A Salvation Army worker has been sacked and his appeals dismissed by an employment tribunal after he told colleagues that refugees should be “sent back on a boat”.
An employment tribunal heard that Charles Markie, who worked at the Salvation Army (SA) for almost 20 years, told colleagues in March 2024: “There wouldn’t be a housing shortage if we weren’t taking in 150 refugees.
“Send them all back on a f****** boat,” the tribunal held in Dundee in September last year heard he added, although Markie denied swearing.
The incident occurred while Markie, 56, was working at Strathmore Lodge hostel in Dundee, which housed migrants, and led to him being sacked for gross misconduct.
The tribunal ruled that the SA was justified in dismissing Markie whose job was to support homeless and vulnerable people, including refugees, in hostel facilities.
Gross misconduct
On 5 March 2024, Markie became “aggressive and angry” in response to line manager Tracey Young’s request that SA staff cooperate with the local authority to help house people including refugees.
His comments, including saying that a Syrian refugee service user should be sent back, were met with shock by those present, the tribunal heard.
A staff member subsequently told Markie’s manager that “she hoped that the claimant would be ‘pulled up’ as what he said was racist.”
Markie, in response, said his comments were made in jest.
“The claimant began complaining that staff couldn’t even joke or take part in banter,” the tribunal heard.
In a disciplinary hearing chaired by service manager Karen Good, Markie responded with: “I didn’t say the F word. I said ‘send them all back on a boat’. I didn’t swear.
“It was my point of view, wasn’t directed at anyone. We are letting too many people in when we don’t have facilities or housing to give them.”
Markie added that he did not mean to hurt anyone, is not racist and has foreign friends.
Despite his comments, Markie said “it wouldn’t bother me” when asked how he would deal with an increase in refugees.
He added: “Some of my favourite clients have been from a different country.
“Every manager will tell you the last 20 years I get carried away. I get excited and make stupid comments. I do make stupid comments but don’t mean any harm.”
Good did not accept Markie was remorseful and said the comment was racist and “undermined any trust” in his ability to do his job which involved supporting refugees based on their needs.
Despite contemplating alternatives to dismissal, such as training, Good said that “the comment was wholly contrary to the policies the claimant had to abide to”.
She concluded Markie had committed gross misconduct and should be summarily dismissed.
In response, on 9 June 2024, Markie did not accept that he was “aggressive” and claimed that “everyone was ‘laughing’ during the conversation”.
He admitted: “I totally get what I said was wrong […] I just didn’t mean it in that context,” and wrote to Good: “Sack me, but don’t sack me for gross misconduct.”
Employment Judge J Hendry, whose ruling was published on 31 December 2025, dismissed Markie’s claims for unfair dismissal, direct sex discrimination and harassment in the September trial.
Judge Hendry said: “The claimant’s colleagues were shocked at the comment made betraying as they saw it a complete insensitivity towards those that they were duty bound to help.
“The employers here did not dismiss for some trivial or mistaken reason but for reasons that they were entitled to regard as serious and substantial.”
‘Banter’ not a defence
The SA today said it was committed to upholding high standards of conduct and integrity at the charity following the tribunal’s decision.
A SA spokesperson said: “[We are committed to] ensuring our services and working environment reflect our mission and values, including serving others without discrimination.”
Jo Mackie, employment lawyer at Michelmores, said: “Defending workplace comments as just ‘banter’, is often a red flag during disciplinary proceedings.
“The idea that an employee responsible for the welfare of refugees in a Christian organisation thinks it is acceptable to say ‘they should all be sent back on a boat’, is remarkable.”
Jainika Patel, employment lawyer at Freeths, added that the SA was justified in dismissing Markie.
Patel said: “Ultimately, it was reasonable to consider the claimant’s comments as gross misconduct given the fact he worked for an organisation whose work, values and purpose are to offer help and support to communities without discrimination.”
