A Christian today lost the latest round of her legal battle not to be forced by an employer to work on Sundays.
Children’s care worker Celestina Mba, 58, a Baptist Christian and mother-of-three from London, argued she should be free to obey the Fourth Commandment in the Bible and rest and pray on the Sabbath.
Mrs Mba asked three Court of Appeal judges to overturn an employment appeal tribunal (EAT) decision dismissing her claim for constructive dismissal against the London Borough of Merton.
She says she was working with autistic children at a respite centre run by the borough on the understanding that she would not have to work on Sundays, but after a time her employers reneged on the agreement.
The appeal judges - Lord Justice Maurice Kay, Lord Justice Elias and Lord Justice Vos - ruled the tribunal had to some extent erred in law but unanimously agreed that this did not mean that Mrs Mba’s appeal should be allowed.
