AN OUTSPOKEN former north-east fire chief was given the bombshell news that he had been passed over for a top job in the new Scottish brigade as he got ready to drive to his uncle’s funeral.
David Dalziel told an employment tribunal that he felt “physically sick” and was unable to travel after being told he had been rejected for a senior management role.
He said he felt “humiliated” after discovering he had not only missed out on the chief fire officer title but also the deputy and assistant chief officer jobs when the country’s eight brigades were merged to form the Scottish Fire And Rescue Service earlier this year.
The 62-year-old claims he was discriminated against because of his age and that he was constructively dismissed from the service he had dedicated 44 years to.
In the latter stages of his career, he clashed with the Scottish Government over the installation of new radios in senior officers’ private cars.
Mr Dalziel was also critical of the switch to the new single service, and claimed the process had been “rushed”.
He had been one of three officers shortlisted for the job of Scotland’s fire chief, but it was eventually given to Tayside’s temporary chief, Alasdair Hay, who was 49 at the time.
Just days after the appointment was announced, the pair met in Mr Dalziel’s office.
Mr Dalziel told the tribunal yesterday: “He said he would love me to be his deputy.”
However, it later emerged that it was not Mr Hay’s decision, and Mr Dalziel accepted he would have to go through the usual interview process – prompting the new fire chief to describe him as a “class act”.
On November 2 last year, as Mr Dalziel was preparing to travel to Ayrshire for his uncle’s funeral, he received a call from Mr Hay about the outcome of the interview.
But Mr Dalziel, of Westhill, told the employment tribunal in Aberdeen yesterday: “Just after 8am, my mobile phone rang and it was Mr Hay, who advised me that I had not got the deputy chief’s job and that he had fought hard for me.
“I was somewhat taken aback and, having said I would consider an assistant chief job, I asked what post I had got – and he said none at all.
“I felt physically sick. I had to phone my mother to say I wasn’t fit to drive down for the funeral, and the rest of it is a blur.
“I was physically and psychologically affected by that.
“I felt totally humiliated and embarrassed by the whole process.”
Mr Dalziel said he began to lose faith in Mr Hay and that when they next met in January this year he decided to covertly tape the discussions.
Asked why, he said: “I had lost my faith and any respect for Mr Hay. He led me a merry dance and let me be humiliated in the process.
“He asked me to be deputy and gave me assurances about the (interview) panel, that he had fought hard for me, all those things. The contrary was the case.” But the fire service claims it was Mr Dalziel’s lack of enthusiasm and passion about the assistant’s job during his interview that meant he was not selected.
Yesterday, he said he had put himself forward for the deputy’s job because of his experience, but accepted he should have been clearer when he told the interviewees he would have to “consider” the assistant role.
He maintained he meant he would need to discuss it with his family, as it would likely have resulted in a big move.
He also pointed out that all six of the successful candidates were younger than him and lacked experience. Mr Dalziel said the decision sparked a “downward spiral” and that he began inquiring about voluntary severance and other redundancy packages before deciding he wanted to stay on until he was at least 65.
He added that Mr Hay further humiliated him by ordering him to clear out his office and telling him he would need to change the rankings on his uniform or simply wear a suit.
On March 15, matters finally came to a head when Mr Dalziel recorded another meeting with Mr Hay, during which he said he had never asked Mr Dalziel to be his deputy.
Mr Dalziel told the panel: “That was the final straw. My integrity was being questioned.
“He was calling me and my family liars. How can I work for someone who called me a liar?”
The tribunal continues.