Bus Driver Sacked For 'Being Too Short' Given Her Job Back After Appeal
Tracey Scholes, who is five foot tall, has been reinstated by Go North West
A bus driver who lost her job because she was 'too short' has been reinstated in her role.
Tracey Scholes, who is five foot tall, has been a bus driver for 34 years but ended up running into difficulties when a bus redesign left her unable to reach the pedals to drive safely.
The 57-year-old made a final appeal to keep her job on 11 January and now Go North West has given her the position back.
According to The Mirror, Go North West moved the wing mirrors on the bus Tracey drove, which meant she could no longer reach the pedals without a blind spot appearing.
The mum-of-three was offered a new role on school buses which have more suitable mirrors, but turned down the job as it would reduce her pay and the hours she worked.
Tracey launched the appeal which was supported by thousands of people that signed a petition calling for her to get her role back.
According to Go North West's HR director Scott Maynard, Tracey has now accepted an offer 'to drive different buses as per a proposal made in September'.
She will have to start a bit earlier to pick up a bus with wing mirrors that are more suitable for her, but her weekly hours and pay will remain the same.
Scott Maynard said: "We have said from the start that we wanted to keep Tracey and we are glad that she has changed her mind and decided to stay."
He added that the company 'operates no height restrictions on recruitment', and said that they have multiple drivers 'of the same height or below' as Tracey.
He went on: "It is categorically untrue that we would, or could, have threatened anybody with dismissal on grounds of height."
When she initially lost her job, Tracey, from Heywood, Greater Manchester, said: “This is heartbreaking. I’m a widow with three children, a house and a mortgage and it’s nearly Christmas.
“I’ve never had to involve the union before, I’ve never had a disciplinary, never been suspended.
“I’ve always gone to management myself with any issues and worked it through.”
She went on to say: "I’m flabbergasted that they can just get rid of me after 34 years.
“I love my job, I don’t want to lose it. I have regular customers and a regular route. "
Featured Image Credit: MEN MediaRebecca Shepherd