Dear All
Further to our email message sent on 31st January 2014 regarding the Employment Tribunal case against Napo, we feel it is necessary to further address some of the media reports being made.
Lee Jasper, Co-Chair of BARAC, has publicly accused Napo of being a racist organisation and organising a “cover up” over the allegations of sexual harassment against Jonathan Ledger, the former General Secretary. The Claimant was dismissed by Napo on the grounds of gross misconduct. The Tribunal found that the dismissal was fair, that it was not an act of unlawful discrimination and neither was it an act of victimisation, and that Napo had properly followed its employment policies. The majority of the allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation were held to be not well founded. In accepting the findings of the Tribunal we accept that the Claimant was subjected to three acts of sexual harassment after the end of a previously undisclosed intimate relationship with Mr Ledger. As the employer, we have accepted joint liability and apologised formally to the Claimant on that basis. We take staff care extremely seriously and have instituted a Dignity at Work policy with training for all staff.
We cannot stress enough that following a lengthy hearing and a detailed 94 page judgment the allegations of racism and sex discrimination against Napo, as an organisation, were dismissed. The Tribunal found no evidence of collusion or of a “cover up”. The judgment is exceptionally clear on that point. The Napo Officers group have been acting in consultation with the National Executive Committee on this issue in line with our Constitution.
Until the 31st of January 2014, a Restricted Reporting Order has been in place meaning that we could not talk publicly about the case without risking a breach. We took that obligation very seriously. By contrast, that order was continually flouted by Mr Jasper who has made repeated claims about Napo being a racist organisation. There is not a scrap of evidence for this and so, for that reason, we have declined to appear on his breakfast show and issued a statement.
The two people concerned no longer work for Napo and, as an organisation, we have been cleared of any wrong doing. That said, we have instituted additional measures to protect our staff and consider this to be our final statement on the matter. Since those events, we have new leadership in Napo and are committed to remaining focussed on the challenges that lie ahead.
Best Wishes
Tom Rendon Ian Lawrence
National Chair General Secretary
National Chair General Secretary
It needed saying and now it has been let's move on.
ReplyDeleteNot said enough. Before 'we move on' and as part of this final reckoning and accountability, it is important to literally count the cost. It's our money and we should know why and how it is spent.
DeleteNapo should explain why it was thought a judicious use of union funds to pay off the former general secretary before the tribunal had ruled. In view of the joint liability and the award of £15,000 compensation, was this cost split or borne solely by Napo funds?
In total, including all legal costs, how much has all this cost union members?
The decisions relating to this were all made by our elected representatives at the NEC and not by national officers. It was undoubtedly a case of damage limitation and legal obligation not golden handshakes or self interest. We have been let down by the actions of more than one individual for more than one reason but those responsible have gone and rightly so. Let's learn what we can from the debacle and get back to work.
DeleteI agree with Netnipper's questions - I think this needs dealing with in a closed session of a general meeting so that every member who wants to hear the detail can choose to attend, at a pre-announced time and place.
DeleteI doubt that it is suitable material for the upcoming Birmingham General Meeting, when in just a few hours Napo has the double business of getting the constitution in the best state possible to deal with all manner of future possibilities with regard to who the employers are and how negotiations are to be conducted.
Then additionally the strategy for dealing with the current situation - as it then is - with the Government's plans for reorganising the probation services and legislation that affects the work of those services.
Plus it could be there is a need for urgent decisions with regard to members who are not employed by probation service organisations, especially CAFCASS.
I hope that the most amount of the time available can go to enabling members to first understand Napo's national strategy with TR as it now is and to then clarify, what that strategy will be forthwith.
Andrew Hatton
Off topic but I heard a rumour that chris grayling visited the Swindon office this afternoon. Anyone want to confirm if correct and what was said?
ReplyDeleteHe did. He said he loved us all, TR was a practical joke and he's giving us all pay rises and the promised flexibility to work as we know we need to.
ReplyDeleteSo that's good news then
The charm offensive is upon us. After Grayling's nosing around in Wilts, its rumoured his hired gun Jezza Wright is due to visit Cumbria. Presumably there are other jolly's planned as well.
ReplyDeleteHere's to the continuing sensitivity of our caring employers - hip, hip...