Two take up their case. Now read on representative that she has been sexually assaulted by a senior member of the He makes inquiries and discovers that two other women have complaints about the behaviour of this member of staff, behaviour and lewd language:
The union representative raises the matter through the appropriate channels and expects a proper conducted to determine whether there is What he does not expect is: that he and another union official who becomes involved in the case *the staff and that this legal action will be backed by their own union; that both unsatisfactory form of inquiry is held; and that when this finds for the senior employee, the women are effectively told Unless one has an unusually cynical turn of mind, one would expect none of these things, yet this is what has taken place within the Labour-controlled Brent council in North-west London.
How events took this course, about which the Willesden and Brent Chronicle says the council has "blundered badly'; how a top official of the National and union in the West, came to be criticised by his branch for his handling of the case; seeking to back the members involved, It was during a conversation with Dr assistant secretary of the secretary alleged that she had been the victim of serious sexual misconduct on Beckett, whose salary is £12,000 a does those detes the en those officer. All three complain that Beckett. employees, one a senior administrarye has used 'bullying, lewd' language to them.
The first report, assault, was made o January of this year, and while it was made to him in confidence he considered that its possible implications for other women employees • necessitated form of official union acuon.
After consulting two other branch officers, it was decided to inform the town clerk, Ken Betts, of the nature of the complaints but not the names of the various employees concerned. Betts, the council's chief officer, responded the suggestion that the women should go to the police, which consider to be the best move.
This meeting, on 24 January, broke management representatives present that up WIEn assurance there would be no victimisation of the complainants, and that the matter would be left in NALGO's hands.
The union management was simply economist, Evidence the issue in tion. NALGQ's Amends that and disciplinary problems.
meeting with the town clerk. faced was solicitor. that a middle-aged responsibility in the case, women intimidatory, and is not an infrequent of alleged sexual.
Parks.
Sup Parks did Arthur Steer, national executive, representatives development:
ge 19 July 1979 Page 4 involved at this stage, which included the branch treasurer, were not happy at this They considered that passing the buck, but they agreed that Mike Parks, who is employed by Brent council as an should obtain written statements from the women and refer them to NALGO's district office.
Whatever Parks' reluctance to pursue this way, the union's handbook offered him ample justifica* Job Guide Representatives and Stewards' recomevidence 1s carefully collected when dealing with grievances But it was then that Parks received the first hint of trouble. A senior member of staff heard what was happening and informed Beckett. Parks, worried by this arranged His fears were not groundless. At a hastily convened meeting with management at which the branch secretary WON present, the town clerk intimated that two Parks could now face legal action.
Parks reacted with understandable anger. He was the only person who was doing anything about processing what he regarded as serious complaints, and now threats. Parks consulted a union colleague, Jeff Lever a member of the branch executive, and they decided to seek advice from a local Mike Parks' next move was to send to had been offered at the 24 January meeting, in particular that the women If Parks had considered that top management was anxious to avoid any view. Betts refused to accept the letter, passing it on to the branch secretary.
The reaction of the branch secretary, Arthur Steer, was a little surprising. apologised to the town clerk for Parks' letter, and wrote to Parks taking him to in His letter added: 'I would point out that an exchange of views or advice sought between union and management rightly so, but in every case the unofficial and confidential nature of the exchange is honoured and is not disclosed by either learned of this letter wondered how their the NALGO branch, and the town clerk, councillors, could make such 'unofficial who in addition to his senior pesitión in the Brent NALGO branch is vice-chairperson of the union's did not consult the branch or its executive committee about his letter to Mike Parks, nor did he carry out such consultation before giving the support of the branch to the next major Adrian Beckett, against whom the complaints were being made, writs for defamation against Parks and Lever. These writs, which are still being pursued, have the backing of the legal department of NALUU of Beckett is also a member. The union's legal officers have asked the women for an apology and the retraction of their complaints.
Astonishing all situation. Instead of receiving official union support Cisure complaints had a just hearing, the three women were now out on a limb. And the union representatives doing their best to give them support were now obliged to defend themselves against a legal attack funded by their union.
Within a fortnight, events were to take an even more unexpected course. On 22 March, the leader of the council, John Lebor, announced that an inquiry was to be held into the complaints, and notified Lever, Parks, and the two complainants still working for Brent that while this was in progress they were all to be suspended from work on full pay.
The suspensions came into immediately, and although Beckett was also suspended, the conditions imposed on the complainants and the two union representatives can scarcely be squared with civil liberties let alone the rights of trades unionists.
A letter from the town clerk informed them that they were not to visit any office of the council; not to communicate with any member or employee of the council, past or present, except for their union representatives whom, it was specified, could not be the two union officials now suspended.
Such action was unprecedented even of Brent council's procedures, CECILIS which previously involved suspension of those against whom allegations of gross misconduct were made. Yet it was not opposed by Arthur Steer, the branch secretary.
In fact, officials who approached represent some of those they could do so capacity'. Steer NALGO's official machinery in motion by she cobaiki wiltin thet conflict within the İeadership meeting or the branch executive on 30 forcefully erupted March. Steer had convened the meeting to discuss the possible expulsion of Parks and Lever from NALGO In the event, a motion was moved which declared the actions Mike Parks and Jeff Lever in pursuing the complaints to be 'unauthorised' and instructed them to 'conduct no further communications behalf branch?.
Steer made no
ensure that Parks and Lever could be issued present to defend themselves. In the view of a number of the branch executive court, and 26 of them walked out of the which 30 March meeting as a protest against the the resolution by 23 votes, with three into the complaints were announced at astonishing secured statements from two of the three that their present evidence in person to the eight counciliors who sat in private to conduct who were the inquiry. The procedures adopted by suspensions which accompanied it that solicitors used by many trade unions.
arrangements to up their case.
What was left of the meeting passed The results of Brent council's inquiry case' While the council's chief solicitor had some three It is perhaps worth noting in the Treasurer, NW6.
1S a senior partner in Thompsons, a firm of Wembley, , tube). allegations were unfounded. Beckett was The 24 May meeting was to provic crucial support to the two women and th two union representatives who had take There was overwhelming support f resolutions condemning the suspensio and the proposed sackings; calling for proper inquiry along judicial lines in! the complaints, and noting 'the failure the branch secretary to act positively defending the interests of all memb involved in the present major grievan The battle for the branch's deman continues. A defence fund to cover ti legal costs of Parks' and Levers' defen has so far raised over £700, part of whi was collected at a Rock Against Sexis benefit earlier this month attended hundred Brent NALG members and supporters.
The address fund is: T 42 Pandora Road, Lond A demonstration is to be held outsi Brent Town Hall, next Wednesday, July, from 5.30 to 7.30pm in Forty Lat Middlesex (Wembley
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the part of Adrian Beckett, the council's Lewd
Complaints against a senior officer of Brent council included sexual assault, forced kissing, fondling, and continual propositioning. union representatives attempted to
IF women workers such as those above were experiencing sexual harassment at work, how confident could they be that it would be seriously investigated and that they wouldn't be victimised?
Suspended hoe infe mapproached to