For criticising Terry, right-wing Labour Councillor for Walthamstow, I
am facing disciplinary action and expulsion
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| Cllr Steve Terry – London Regional Organiser & Progress supporter |
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| I am informed of Steve Terry’s complaint that I publicised his abysmal failure to support a member |
The real question of course is why Terry is not being
disciplined for refusing to support Stan Keable, a member sacked for going on a
demonstration and expressing his views about Zionism.
disciplined for refusing to support Stan Keable, a member sacked for going on a
demonstration and expressing his views about Zionism.
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| Terry’s Advice to Stan Keable beg for forgiveness |
No one is asking Steve Terry to be an anti-Zionist. All he has to do is support
the right of UNISON members to freedom of speech and the right of assembly
without being victimised. Not only are these basic to any concept of workers’ rights they happen to be enshrined in Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Yet it would appear that this document is too radical for Terry and it would seem UNISON too.
the right of UNISON members to freedom of speech and the right of assembly
without being victimised. Not only are these basic to any concept of workers’ rights they happen to be enshrined in Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Yet it would appear that this document is too radical for Terry and it would seem UNISON too.
Following his dismissal Stan wrote again to UNISON, making a complaint
against Terry and asking for a legal opinion as to his situation and for
representation by another officer. In
return Beth Bickerstaffe, Director of the Executive Office replied thus:
against Terry and asking for a legal opinion as to his situation and for
representation by another officer. In
return Beth Bickerstaffe, Director of the Executive Office replied thus:
On 29 May 2018, at 12:04, Bickerstaffe, Beth wrote:
Dear
Mr Keable,
Mr Keable,
As
mentioned in my previous correspondence I have passed your complaint about Mr
Terry to the Regional Secretary in accordance with the union’s complaints
procedure.
mentioned in my previous correspondence I have passed your complaint about Mr
Terry to the Regional Secretary in accordance with the union’s complaints
procedure.
You
were provided with advice and offered representation by UNISON but you did not
agree with the advice, decided not to accept it and appointed a different
representative to Mr Terry. This is a choice that you are free to make.
However, the union’s rules are clear that in those circumstances it will
withdraw from acting for you. This was made clear to you when Mr Terry wrote to
you.
were provided with advice and offered representation by UNISON but you did not
agree with the advice, decided not to accept it and appointed a different
representative to Mr Terry. This is a choice that you are free to make.
However, the union’s rules are clear that in those circumstances it will
withdraw from acting for you. This was made clear to you when Mr Terry wrote to
you.
The
union does not generally seek legal advice from solicitors in relation to
disciplinary matters because Regional Organisers use their knowledge and
experience to advise our members about the best way to deal with disciplinary
issues.
union does not generally seek legal advice from solicitors in relation to
disciplinary matters because Regional Organisers use their knowledge and
experience to advise our members about the best way to deal with disciplinary
issues.
Given
that you decided both to take a different route from the one advised and
appointed an external representative the union has made it clear to you that it
is unable to act for you and it will not therefore be seeking legal advice
about your dismissal.
that you decided both to take a different route from the one advised and
appointed an external representative the union has made it clear to you that it
is unable to act for you and it will not therefore be seeking legal advice
about your dismissal.
Yours
sincerely,
sincerely,
Beth
Beth
Bickerstaffe
Bickerstaffe
Director
of the Executive Office
of the Executive Office
It is true that in response to being
charged with attending a demonstration and giving ‘offence’ to Zionists, Terry
offered his ‘advice’, which was to plead guilty and fall on the mercy of the Council
officers. Terry, who is also a
right-wing Labour Councillor for Walthamstow, even offered to be a ‘silent
representative’ thus signalling to the disciplinary panel that UNISON did not
support him.
charged with attending a demonstration and giving ‘offence’ to Zionists, Terry
offered his ‘advice’, which was to plead guilty and fall on the mercy of the Council
officers. Terry, who is also a
right-wing Labour Councillor for Walthamstow, even offered to be a ‘silent
representative’ thus signalling to the disciplinary panel that UNISON did not
support him.
If Stan had taken Terry’s advice then
any application to an Employment Tribunal would have been sunk by accepting he
was in the wrong. Unsurprisingly Stan rejected Terry’s advice and asked me to
represent him.
any application to an Employment Tribunal would have been sunk by accepting he
was in the wrong. Unsurprisingly Stan rejected Terry’s advice and asked me to
represent him.
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| The message from the Zionist ‘anti-racist’ demonstration was clear – Corbyn was anti-semitic |
Stan Keable, who is Secretary of
Labour Against the Witchhunt and an employee of Hammersmith & Fulham Council,
went on the Jewish Voice for Labour demonstration on March 26th
outside Parliament. The demonstration
was in opposition to the racist anti-Corbyn demonstration called by various
Zionist groups which included Sajid Javid, Chuka Ummuna, various right-wing
Labour MPs, Norman Tebbit and the anti-abortion anti-Catholic homophobes of the
DUP. It was a demonstration whose main slogan was ‘Jeremy Corbyn is a racist’.
Labour Against the Witchhunt and an employee of Hammersmith & Fulham Council,
went on the Jewish Voice for Labour demonstration on March 26th
outside Parliament. The demonstration
was in opposition to the racist anti-Corbyn demonstration called by various
Zionist groups which included Sajid Javid, Chuka Ummuna, various right-wing
Labour MPs, Norman Tebbit and the anti-abortion anti-Catholic homophobes of the
DUP. It was a demonstration whose main slogan was ‘Jeremy Corbyn is a racist’.
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| David Grossman – BBC Newsnight’s skunk of a journalist |
Stan got into a discussion with a
Zionist demonstrator and expressed the view that the Zionists and the Nazis
collaborated in Germany. This was picked
up by a BBC David Grossman, a yellow journalist who wouldn’t have been out of
place informing for the Stasi. What was
a private conversation was tweeted and hey presto, after a letter from Tory
Minister Greg Hands, Stan was suspended.
The details can be found here
and here.
Zionist demonstrator and expressed the view that the Zionists and the Nazis
collaborated in Germany. This was picked
up by a BBC David Grossman, a yellow journalist who wouldn’t have been out of
place informing for the Stasi. What was
a private conversation was tweeted and hey presto, after a letter from Tory
Minister Greg Hands, Stan was suspended.
The details can be found here
and here.
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| The charges against Stan Keable |
The charges Stan has been dismissed
for are a threat to the rights and civil liberties of every Council employee. Ludicrous though they are Stan was accused of
committing an offence because by attending a demonstration he ‘knowingly increased the possibility of
being challenged about your views’ Even
worse he ‘subsequently proceeded to
express views that were in breach of the Council’s Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion Policy and the Council’s Code of Conduct (‘Working with integrity’
and ‘Working with the media’).’
for are a threat to the rights and civil liberties of every Council employee. Ludicrous though they are Stan was accused of
committing an offence because by attending a demonstration he ‘knowingly increased the possibility of
being challenged about your views’ Even
worse he ‘subsequently proceeded to
express views that were in breach of the Council’s Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion Policy and the Council’s Code of Conduct (‘Working with integrity’
and ‘Working with the media’).’
The latter charge is a load of
nonsense and is based on the idea that anti-Zionism is in conflict with the Council’s
Equality Policy.
nonsense and is based on the idea that anti-Zionism is in conflict with the Council’s
Equality Policy.
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| Fortunately a position has come up that Stan can apply 4 – Parliamentary Assistant to Luciana Berger MP |
Terry clearly faced a conflict of interest between his
UNISON role and his right-wing political views. clear that Terry is on the
right of the Labour movement as evidenced by the fact that he is on Progress’s speaking list! Instead of
standing aside and letting someone else in UNISON take over, Terry deliberately
proved obstructive.For example he instructed the
Secretary of the local UNISON branch to have nothing to do with me.
UNISON role and his right-wing political views. clear that Terry is on the
right of the Labour movement as evidenced by the fact that he is on Progress’s speaking list! Instead of
standing aside and letting someone else in UNISON take over, Terry deliberately
proved obstructive.For example he instructed the
Secretary of the local UNISON branch to have nothing to do with me.
One might have thought Stan was
arguing for the racial inferiority of Black people judging by the references to
the Council’s Equality policy. The
second charge followed on from the first.
Stan ‘made inappropriate comments
which were subsequently circulated on social media which are deemed to be
insensitive’.
arguing for the racial inferiority of Black people judging by the references to
the Council’s Equality policy. The
second charge followed on from the first.
Stan ‘made inappropriate comments
which were subsequently circulated on social media which are deemed to be
insensitive’.
Although Terry is probably too dim to
understand this, the right to be offensive is an integral part of free speech as I’m demonstrating right now!
understand this, the right to be offensive is an integral part of free speech as I’m demonstrating right now!
I therefore criticised Terry on my
blog and subsequently in an article in Weekly Worker, No
criticism permitted. The result is that Terry has made a
complaint against me and I am facing a disciplinary panel next week. It is clear from the correspondence so far
that their main, indeed only concern is the rights of full-time officials. The rights of members comes a distant second.
blog and subsequently in an article in Weekly Worker, No
criticism permitted. The result is that Terry has made a
complaint against me and I am facing a disciplinary panel next week. It is clear from the correspondence so far
that their main, indeed only concern is the rights of full-time officials. The rights of members comes a distant second.
Why have I spoken out despite being
told that the matter is ‘confidential’?
Because if it is confidential it is personal to me but I do not accept
that. Making sure the union supports its
members is relevant to all UNISON members.
told that the matter is ‘confidential’?
Because if it is confidential it is personal to me but I do not accept
that. Making sure the union supports its
members is relevant to all UNISON members.
The duty of all UNISON officers is,
or should be, to their members. Ideally
they should be elected as was the case in the old AUEW engineering union. In UNISON regional officials act like union
barons who think that the members owe them a living. There is therefore no accountability and that
is why unions like UNISON repeatedly sell out their members pay and conditions. As local government cuts have taken their
toll over the past decade, UNISON has stood by immobile, refusing to do
anything. When there have been strikes
Dave Prentis and the union bureaucracy have exerted themselves to have the
actions called off as soon as possible. The Tories have been able to take the
axe to local government knowing that UNISON would do no more than put up a
verbal protest.
or should be, to their members. Ideally
they should be elected as was the case in the old AUEW engineering union. In UNISON regional officials act like union
barons who think that the members owe them a living. There is therefore no accountability and that
is why unions like UNISON repeatedly sell out their members pay and conditions. As local government cuts have taken their
toll over the past decade, UNISON has stood by immobile, refusing to do
anything. When there have been strikes
Dave Prentis and the union bureaucracy have exerted themselves to have the
actions called off as soon as possible. The Tories have been able to take the
axe to local government knowing that UNISON would do no more than put up a
verbal protest.
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| As JLM Councillor Adam Langleben was complaining abut the defeat that he himself had brought about, with the false accusations of ‘antisemitism’ Dave Prentis tweeted his support for his false allegations |
On Palestine UNISON has good policy. I
should know as I spoke in favour of the successful BDS motion as the delegate
from Brighton and Hove in 2007 and 2008.
Unfortunately it doesn’t do a great deal about that policy. Worse still, it has no understanding of
Zionism, the motivating ideology and movement behind the racism of the Israeli state.
This is why UNISON representatives on Labour’s NEC have acted on the basis that
there is some substance in the allegations of Labour anti-Semitism. For example when Adam Langleben of the Jewish
Labour Movement lost his seat in Hendon West because he had been so successful
in spreading the lie that Labour is anti-Semitic, Dave Prentice offered him his
support in his defeat.
should know as I spoke in favour of the successful BDS motion as the delegate
from Brighton and Hove in 2007 and 2008.
Unfortunately it doesn’t do a great deal about that policy. Worse still, it has no understanding of
Zionism, the motivating ideology and movement behind the racism of the Israeli state.
This is why UNISON representatives on Labour’s NEC have acted on the basis that
there is some substance in the allegations of Labour anti-Semitism. For example when Adam Langleben of the Jewish
Labour Movement lost his seat in Hendon West because he had been so successful
in spreading the lie that Labour is anti-Semitic, Dave Prentice offered him his
support in his defeat.
This case is really about the belief that
the views of Stan, just like those of Ken Livingstone, that Zionism collaborated with the Nazis, is anti-Semitic. UNISON is therefore aiding the false ‘anti-Semitism’
witch-hunt whose purpose is the removal of Jeremy Corbyn.
the views of Stan, just like those of Ken Livingstone, that Zionism collaborated with the Nazis, is anti-Semitic. UNISON is therefore aiding the false ‘anti-Semitism’
witch-hunt whose purpose is the removal of Jeremy Corbyn.
I will face an investigation next
Monday and I have no doubt that I will be found guilty of having broken the
rules by upsetting and offending Steve Terry, by challenging his refusal to do
what he is paid to do, that is support a member under attack. I can’t say that I feel particularly
repentant!
Monday and I have no doubt that I will be found guilty of having broken the
rules by upsetting and offending Steve Terry, by challenging his refusal to do
what he is paid to do, that is support a member under attack. I can’t say that I feel particularly
repentant!
Tony Greenstein
Original Letter of
Complaint
Complaint
From: Stan Keable [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 23 May 2018 18:50
To: Bickerstaffe, Beth
Subject: Unison Case Number 0132153 – Complaint, Legal opinion, Representation
Sent: 23 May 2018 18:50
To: Bickerstaffe, Beth
Subject: Unison Case Number 0132153 – Complaint, Legal opinion, Representation
Unison Case
Number 0132153 – Complaint, Legal opinion, Representation
Number 0132153 – Complaint, Legal opinion, Representation
Wed May 23rd
2018
2018
Beth
Bickerstaffe,
Bickerstaffe,
Unison,
Director of the Executive Office
Director of the Executive Office
Dear Ms
Bickerstaffe,
Bickerstaffe,
Unison Case
Number 0132153: (a) Complaint and (b) Request for a legal opinion
and (c) Request for representation
Number 0132153: (a) Complaint and (b) Request for a legal opinion
and (c) Request for representation
(a)
Complaint against London Regional Organiser, Steve Terry
Complaint against London Regional Organiser, Steve Terry
I am writing
to make a formal complaint against Steve Terry for failing to support me in my
recent disciplinary procedure, and in particular for failing to obtain a legal
opinion on my case prior to my May 10 disciplinary hearing, which I requested
urgently in my May 1st email to him.
to make a formal complaint against Steve Terry for failing to support me in my
recent disciplinary procedure, and in particular for failing to obtain a legal
opinion on my case prior to my May 10 disciplinary hearing, which I requested
urgently in my May 1st email to him.
In my May
1st email, I noted the gravity of the case for all Unison members,
because Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s proposal to dismiss me for
“attending a political demonstration and expressing my anti-Zionist political
views” would be “discrimination” [under the Equality Act 2010], would not only
infringe my rights, but would also “deny the human rights of all Unison members
to engage in demonstrations and political campaigning”.
1st email, I noted the gravity of the case for all Unison members,
because Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s proposal to dismiss me for
“attending a political demonstration and expressing my anti-Zionist political
views” would be “discrimination” [under the Equality Act 2010], would not only
infringe my rights, but would also “deny the human rights of all Unison members
to engage in demonstrations and political campaigning”.
At my case
meeting with Steve Terry on April 27th, he made it clear that he did not
support my case: that I should plead guilty as charged; that I should not have
attended the March 26 demonstration; that I should apologise for the political
views I expressed; and that I should promise not to attend controversial
demonstrations and should avoid expressing my political views in future.
meeting with Steve Terry on April 27th, he made it clear that he did not
support my case: that I should plead guilty as charged; that I should not have
attended the March 26 demonstration; that I should apologise for the political
views I expressed; and that I should promise not to attend controversial
demonstrations and should avoid expressing my political views in future.
He also gave
me an ultimatum if I did not follow his bad advice: either Unison support would
be withdrawn forthwith, or he was willing to attend my disciplinary hearing as
asilent Unison rep while I presented my own case – which obviously
would have shown the employer that Unison did not support my case. In my May
1st email, I requested an alternative Unison full-time official to support me
in the hearing, a request which Steve Terry ignored.
me an ultimatum if I did not follow his bad advice: either Unison support would
be withdrawn forthwith, or he was willing to attend my disciplinary hearing as
asilent Unison rep while I presented my own case – which obviously
would have shown the employer that Unison did not support my case. In my May
1st email, I requested an alternative Unison full-time official to support me
in the hearing, a request which Steve Terry ignored.
Later that
day, May 1st, I received notice of my formal disciplinary hearing on May 10th.
In the absence of legal advice and support from Unison London Region, I quickly
obtained support from Unison rep Tony Greenstein (Brighton & Hove branch),
who subsequently presented my case very ably at the May 10th hearing. On May
8th Steve Terry wrote me confirming his bad advice and confirming the
withdrawal of advice and/or assistance.
day, May 1st, I received notice of my formal disciplinary hearing on May 10th.
In the absence of legal advice and support from Unison London Region, I quickly
obtained support from Unison rep Tony Greenstein (Brighton & Hove branch),
who subsequently presented my case very ably at the May 10th hearing. On May
8th Steve Terry wrote me confirming his bad advice and confirming the
withdrawal of advice and/or assistance.
(b) Request
for a legal opinion – URGENT
for a legal opinion – URGENT
Yesterday
(May 22nd) H&F Council informed me by email of the outcome of the
disciplinary hearing: I am dismissed for “gross misconduct” from May 21st with
salary in lieu of notice. I now intend to appeal, if that is possible, and then
to take the case to an emplyment tribunal. This is particularly important for
Unison becuase the outcome threatens the rights of all Unison members, indeed
all employees, to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.
(May 22nd) H&F Council informed me by email of the outcome of the
disciplinary hearing: I am dismissed for “gross misconduct” from May 21st with
salary in lieu of notice. I now intend to appeal, if that is possible, and then
to take the case to an emplyment tribunal. This is particularly important for
Unison becuase the outcome threatens the rights of all Unison members, indeed
all employees, to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.
I am
therefore asking again for an urgent legal opinion on the case, which involves
both human rights legislation – concerning free speech, the right to
demonstrate and the duty of public authorities to foster an environment in
which political opinions which may irritate or offend the public may be
legitimately expressed – and the interpretation of the Equality Act 2010, which
should prohibit discrimination, but is being misused by H&F Council to restrict
freedom of assembly and expression.
therefore asking again for an urgent legal opinion on the case, which involves
both human rights legislation – concerning free speech, the right to
demonstrate and the duty of public authorities to foster an environment in
which political opinions which may irritate or offend the public may be
legitimately expressed – and the interpretation of the Equality Act 2010, which
should prohibit discrimination, but is being misused by H&F Council to restrict
freedom of assembly and expression.
(c) Request
for representation
for representation
I also wish
to renew my request for advice and support by a Unison full-time official other
than Steve Terry, one who recognises the importance of defending free speech,
not just for me but for all Unison members and for employees at large.
to renew my request for advice and support by a Unison full-time official other
than Steve Terry, one who recognises the importance of defending free speech,
not just for me but for all Unison members and for employees at large.
Hoping for
your ugent support – the H&F deadline for lodging an appeal is 10 working
days from notification of the disciplinary decision.
your ugent support – the H&F deadline for lodging an appeal is 10 working
days from notification of the disciplinary decision.
Kind
regards,
regards,
Stan Keable
07817 379568
Posted in Blog
