Mr Mackie was employed as a support worker, helping homeless people including asylum seekers move towards independent living.
The claimant reported to the Programme Manager at Strathmore Lodge, Tracey Young.
On March 5 2024, Ms Young informed staff about new rules which stipulated that service users had to identify 20 out of a possible 40 potential areas when applying to move as they would now only be provided with one reasonable offer of a new home.
In response, Mr Mackie was said to have became aggressive and angry and swore.
He said that he would not be co-operating with the local authority and that no other agency should be dictating to them what they should be doing.
The Salvation Army in Scotland have called for swift action over the numbers who are discharged from hospital with nowhere to live (Image: Salvation Army)
Miss Young told him that contractually they had to assist.
The tribunal heard that he went on to remark, “there wouldn’t be a housing shortage if we weren’t taking in 150 refugees”. A witness claimed he then said: “send them all back on a f****** boat”.
The claimant’s comments were said to be met with shock by those present at the meeting and his comments were challenged by staff.
The tribunal was told he was challenged by a colleague, who asked if that included a user of the hostel who was a refugee from Syria.
Mr Markie responded: “Yes, the lot of them.”
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The tribunal heard that Mr Mackie had previously been warned over his conduct.
During an investigation by the charity he admitted he had made the remark but denied he was racist and “had foreign friends.” He claimed he did not swear during his outburst.
At a disciplinary hearing he said: “It was my point of view, wasn’t directed at anyone. We are letting too many people in when we don’t have facilities or housing to give them”, he said.
He was asked if he felt the comment “was within our values as an organisation?” and he responded:- “Probably not – no. I have supported many clients and some of my favourite clients have been from a different country. I don’t make a difference with them.”
Asked how he would deal with an increase in refugees, Mr Markie told the hearing: “It wouldn’t bother me.”
He then told managers that he could “get carried away”, adding: “I do make stupid comments but don’t mean any harm.”
The tribunal heard Miss Good believed the comment was racist and “undermined any trust she had in the claimant’s ability to carry on with his role which involved helping refugees based on their needs”.
He was sacked by the charity on May 31 last year.
Mr Mackie lost three separate claims of unfair dismissal, direct sex discrimination and harassment.
Publishing his ruling on December 31, Judge J Hendry said: “The evidence showed that the claimant’s colleagues were shocked at the comment made, betraying, as they saw it, a complete insensitivity towards those that they were duty bound to help.”