A cleaner is taking legal action against a top City law firm for indirect race discrimination after being fired for eating a leftover tuna sandwich from a discarded platter.

Gabriela Rodriguez from Ecuador cleaned the offices of Devonshires Solicitors for two years.

United Voices of the World union (UVW), which supports migrant workers, claims she was sacked just before Christmas 2023 after contractor Total Clean received a complaint from Devonshires Solicitors that leftover sandwiches were not being returned.

The union confirmed Rodriguez ate a £1.50 tuna sandwich she thought would be discarded after a meeting of lawyers. The claim was first reported by legal affairs website RollOnFriday…

A Total Clean spokesperson told the Guardian: “While we would not typically comment on personnel issues, we would like to address the misleading and inaccurate information that is being alleged by our ex-employee…

A spokesperson for Devonshires Solicitors said: “Devonshires did not make a formal complaint against Gabriela and expressly told Total Clean not to take any action against her. Total Clean carried out their own investigation and the decision to dismiss Gabriela was taken without any input or influence from Devonshires whatsoever…