During seven years working as a papermaker on the factory floor at the companys Otley mill, Sicily-born Salvatore Barresi had to contend with racial abuse and discrimination before resigning last year suffering from depression.

Barresi said he had not wanted to take action, but was forced to do so after managers failed to sort out the problem.

Its possibly one of the worst cases of racial abuse that I have heard of in a long time, said GPMU deputy general secretary Tony Burke.

The tribunal awarded Barresi 20,000 for injury to feelings, 5,000 in aggravated damages, 5,000 for psychological damage, 1,134 for loss of earnings and 6,000 in interest.

A spokesman for Garnett said the company was not prepared to comment on the case, but would issue its own statement shortly, at which time people can make their own judgement on the case.

Garnett manufacturers textured and embossed papers and boards, ink-jet and digital papers, and papers for outdoor and indoor media use.

Story by Andy Scott