North Ayrshire Council
North Ayrshire Council is up to its old tricks again.
A pre-hearing review is scheduled for next week (29, 30 and 31 October) and the arrangements for the hearing have been under discussion for some time.
Stefan Cross suggested a test case involving only a few members of staff to minimise the disruption for everyone involved.
But for reasons known only to itself the council refused to play ball and has suddenly refused permission for any staff to attend during working time - which we believe to be a deliberate wrecking tactic on their part.
Stefan Cross wrote to all clients affected by this hearing late last week - urging people to attend the hearings. But by refusing to grant time-off North Ayrshire is deliberately making it impossible for most people to attend - unless they already have a scheduled day off.
We have spoken to a number of clients and have been told that the council arranged a hasty ring around on Friday - though outside office hours (i.e. after 5pm) - to say that people would not be granted time off to attend the hearing.
We will be complaining about the council's behaviour to the Chair of the Employment Tribunal on Monday - clients can do likewise to your own local councillor. Council officials are simply making the rules up as they go along - and to suit themselves.
Can you imagine a council manager being denied time off to give evidence at an important tribunal hearing - or having to take a day's leave to attend?
Not in a million years!
If you are in a position to attend next Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday - let us know by phoning the office on 0131 667 7956 and leaving your contact details We will keep everyone up to date with developments later in the week.
A pre-hearing review is scheduled for next week (29, 30 and 31 October) and the arrangements for the hearing have been under discussion for some time.
Stefan Cross suggested a test case involving only a few members of staff to minimise the disruption for everyone involved.
But for reasons known only to itself the council refused to play ball and has suddenly refused permission for any staff to attend during working time - which we believe to be a deliberate wrecking tactic on their part.
Stefan Cross wrote to all clients affected by this hearing late last week - urging people to attend the hearings. But by refusing to grant time-off North Ayrshire is deliberately making it impossible for most people to attend - unless they already have a scheduled day off.
We have spoken to a number of clients and have been told that the council arranged a hasty ring around on Friday - though outside office hours (i.e. after 5pm) - to say that people would not be granted time off to attend the hearing.
We will be complaining about the council's behaviour to the Chair of the Employment Tribunal on Monday - clients can do likewise to your own local councillor. Council officials are simply making the rules up as they go along - and to suit themselves.
Can you imagine a council manager being denied time off to give evidence at an important tribunal hearing - or having to take a day's leave to attend?
Not in a million years!
If you are in a position to attend next Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday - let us know by phoning the office on 0131 667 7956 and leaving your contact details We will keep everyone up to date with developments later in the week.
