Birmingham residents have shared mixed reactions to the sacking of an RAC repairman who was dismissed after video showed him embracing Raise the Colours founder Ryan Bridge. Abdul Bashir, 52, from Saltley, was fired by the breakdown service earlier this month following a disciplinary hearing that concluded he should have been en route to a breakdown call when he stopped to greet Bridge.
The video, posted online on July 26, shows Mr Bashir standing in front of an RAC vehicle in uniform with Bridge at the side of the road at Blythe Valley Business Park in Solihull. Mr Bashir described Bridge as an old friend of ten to 15 years. He previously told BirminghamLive he was "gutted" about losing his job, but the RAC said he was "dismissed following multiple breaches of road traffic law, health and safety requirements, and company policy."
Readers split over dismissal decision
BirminghamLive readers shared their thoughts, with hundreds of comments left on Facebook. Philip Alexander said: "People need to start reading their employment contract, there's a whole section usually covering social media etc, anything that can give the company a bad name they can sack you for." Shakina Queenie Stewart replied: "Work for a household brand and you have to deal with the consequences."
Peter Beadsworth replied in disagreement, asking: "How is it giving the company a bad name?" while Jo Tyrrell chimed in: "Warning yeah, straight sacking no." Graeme Stinson called Mr Bashir's sacking "ridiculous", writing: "He only pulled over and said hello to Ryan whom he's known years." Dylan McAndrew replied: "He was meant to be on his way to a job, mate." John Nevill wrote: "You wear the uniform, you represent the company."
RAC cites safety breaches in dismissal
The RAC previously told BirminghamLive: "Mr Bashir was dismissed following multiple breaches of road traffic law, health and safety requirements, and company policy. These included illegally stopping a patrol vehicle in a live lane, delaying attendance to a stranded member, standing unsafely between two vehicles, and directing a colleague to perform an unlawful manoeuvre. The safety of our members, colleagues, and other road users is paramount, and we act where conduct fails to comply with the law and our standards of conduct. The grounds for dismissal were fully communicated to Mr Bashir following a thorough investigation."
The incident has sparked a wider debate about employee conduct on social media and the responsibilities of workers representing household brands, with some readers arguing that the sacking was disproportionate while others supported the RAC's decision to prioritise safety and compliance.
