A former Salvation Army worker who was dismissed after suggesting migrants should be sent back home "on a f****** boat" has spoken publicly for the first time, insisting he is not racist.
Two Decades of Service Ends in Dismissal
Charles Markie, 56, had worked on the homelessness frontline in Dundee for nearly twenty years, helping vulnerable people find accommodation. His role ended in March 2024 when he was sacked from the Salvation Army's Strathmore Lodge hostel, which houses migrants.
The dismissal followed comments he made to colleagues during a discussion about changes to Dundee City Council's housing policy. Mr Markie stated, "There wouldn't be a housing shortage if we weren't taking in 150 refugees," and suggested sending them all back "on a f****** boat."
Tribunal Upholds Dismissal as Justified
An employment tribunal in Dundee subsequently threw out Mr Markie's claim for unfair dismissal. Employment Judge James Hendry, publishing his ruling on December 31, stated that 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 tribunal heard that a colleague reported the remarks, hoping he would be "pulled up" as they were considered racist. Salvation Army service manager Karen Good, who chaired the disciplinary hearing, concluded the comment was racist and constituted gross misconduct, undermining trust in his ability to perform a role that involved helping refugees.
Markie's Defence and Housing Pressure Claims
In an exclusive interview, Mr Markie defended his record. "I'm not a racist," he said, citing friendships with colleagues from South Korea and Turkey. "I don't have any affiliation with any racist groups or have any negative views about people from other cultures or races."
He argued his frustration stemmed from the pressure on local housing. He claimed his job had become more difficult due to the number of places being taken by migrants in the poverty-stricken city. Dundee has seen around 1,000 refugees or migrants settle there in the past five years, including over 500 Ukrainians between 2022 and 2024, and around 250 from Syria, Iraq, and other countries via resettlement schemes since 2020.
Mr Markie stood by the sentiment of his comments, saying he was "passionately defending Dundee homelessness." He believed management used the "boats" remark as an excuse to dismiss him over a prior incident where he criticised their leadership.
He has now been signed off long-term due to the impact on his mental health and is unemployed, having spent his life savings on the tribunal. Despite the outcome, he stated he still supports the Salvation Army charity, blaming the local management team.
