A mother said she felt 'helpless and vulnerable' after a council worker shamed her in the middle of a packed waiting room when she asked where she could breastfeed her son.
Soraya Zaccaria was waiting for her appointment at a Southwark Council service point on Walworth Road in the south London borough when 22-month-old Cailean, who is allergic to cow's milk, began crying.
The packed waiting room had no available seats so the mother-of-three asked a male employee where she could breastfeed her crying toddler - but says she was told off by him.
The 41-old said: 'He shouted, 'you can't breastfeed here, not in front of people!'
Soraya Zaccaria (pictured with her son) was waiting for her appointment at a Southwark Council service point when 22-month-old Cailean, who is allergic to cow's milk, began crying
'He got close to my face while I was holding my crying son.
'Cailean has a cow's milk allergy which is why I still have to breast feed him.
'I felt vulnerable and shamed, feeling shamed was the worst part.'
The stay-at-home mother resorted to trying to find a bench outside, but on a bitter December day, it was too cold.
However she said the argument with the man resumed when she returned inside the council building, on December 11.
Ms Zaccaria said she felt 'helpless and vulnerable' after a council worker shamed her in the middle of a packed waiting room
She added: 'I went back in, asked how to make a complaint and asked for the manager.
'He said there was no reason for me to make a complaint.'
But then member of the public jumped to her defence.
She said: 'A woman came over to us and told him that by law I was allowed to breastfeed, it's under the 2010 Equality Act.
'He began arguing with her and another council worker called me over and said he was being unacceptable and that I could breastfeed.
The council service point in Walworth Road where the mother says she was told off for asking where she could breastfeed her son
'I have breast fed at bus stops and gas stations and no one even blinked.
'This is my third child and it has never happened before.'
The Italian born mother added: 'It was embarrassing.
'I have been racially abused before and while this isn't the same, it still brought similar feelings of helplessness and shame.'
Ms Zaccaria was visiting the council offices to drop off some forms because her eldest son had just turned 18.
As soon as Ms Zaccaria, who lives with her partner and her three sons in Southwark, south London, returned home she made an online complaint and contacted her MP, Neil Coyle.
Southwark Council recently joined a 'breastfeeding welcome' scheme, aimed at encouraging businesses to make mothers feel more welcome.
Ms Zaccaria added said she regularly visits a breastfeeding cafe which is run by the council.
She said: 'I think all council workers should be aware of the Equality Act and should have some sort of training.
'There are posters up saying you have to be respectful to workers but it works both ways.'
Councillor Evelyn Akoto, cabinet member for community safety and public health said the member of staff 'has been spoken to' and the incident 'does not represent council policy.'
She said: 'This is utterly unacceptable, as a mother of a young child myself, I totally understand the upset that this may have caused Ms Zaccaria, and for that I am sincerely sorry.
'Soon after this incident occurred I understand that Ms Zaccaria met with our service point manager who directly apologised for this incident and assured her that we are working to ensure that this doesn't happen again to other customers.
'I understand that the security guard in question has also been spoken to about how to handle this type of enquiry in the future.
'I want to reiterate that I am sincerely sorry that this happened.
'This incident does not represent council policy and we have spoken to staff to remind them that the mothers are, of course, welcome to breastfeed in all council buildings.'
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Main photo article A mother said she felt ‘helpless and vulnerable’ after a council worker shamed her in the middle of a packed waiting room when she asked where she could breastfeed her son.
Soraya Zaccaria was waiting for her appointment at a Southwark Council service point on Walworth Road in the...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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