Mystery remains over suspended official
TRADE UNION ‘PRESIDENT ELECT’ STILL AWAY FROM HIS JOB AFTER
A SENIOR union official in Kirklees remains suspended after two years.
Paul Holmes, secretary of the Kirklees branch of Unison, was suspended by Kirklees Council in December 2019 and by his trade union. The reason has never been made public.
However, an independent investigation was described as ‘serious and confidential’ by the council’s chief executive, Jacqui Gedman, in an email to councillors.
That independent investigation, which was shrouded in secrecy, concluded in March this year after 15 months.
The union suspended Mr Holmes along with Kirklees branch chairman, Nick Ruff, and assistant branch secretary Cath Kinder. Mr Holmes, a council employee, was also suspended by the authority.
No details have emerged about the investigation and none of the individuals involved have spoken publicly about it.
In the months since Mr Holmes has been involved in another internal disciplinary process held at the Clarion Cedar Court Hotel at Ainley Top on the outskirts of Huddersfield.
The council was asked to indicate how long that process was likely to last, whether it was taking place every day, and to detail the anticipated cost. It was also asked to clarify whether the process was open to the public and the press.
In response the council said it could not comment as it was ‘a confidential employment matter.’
A Unison spokesperson said: “While an investigation is still in progress, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Before his suspension Mr Holmes made headlines for more than a year as a result of his involvement with council bin workers in Kirklees, who threatened to strike over claims of bullying, racism and ‘heavy-handed’ management.
He was described by one union member as ‘a consistent thorn in the council’s side.’
During the period of his suspension Mr Holmes stood as a candidate for the position of general secretary of Unison, which is Europe’s largest public service union with more than 1.3 million members.
He came second in the ballot. He was later elected national president of the union, a role he has not yet taken up due to his suspension.
The suspensions of Mr Holmes, Mr Ruff and Ms Kinder came just a fortnight after Unison members among Huddersfield’s bin workers held a consultative ballot on industrial action.
Following the suspensions the Kirklees branch was placed under the supervision of regional officers Natalie Ratcliffe and Ashley Harper. The branch intends to hold an AGM across four dates in February and at four venues, plus online, enabling it to move out of supervision.
Mr Holmes, a veteran left-winger, has received backing from Labour figures including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, and MPs Jon Trickett and Richard Burgon.