ONE of the UK's top trade union bosses has suffered an
embarrassing rulebook defeat over the suspension of two Ulster shop
stewards, the Belfast Telegraph learned today.
Roger Lyons, general secretary of the MSF, authorised
disciplinary action against two factory floor representatives in the
Shorts plant in Belfast.
But now an independent ruling has concluded that Mr Lyons broke
his own union's rules in the case.
The damning judgement has been delivered by the Northern Ireland
Certification Officer, the official complaints watchdog for trade
unions.
It concluded that the two shop stewards, Frank Cammock and Kevin
Doherty, were denied natural justice and the union had "no excuse
for acting outside its own disciplinary procedures".
The 1999 suspensions followed claims that MSF members at Shorts
were planning a mass defection to another union, the T&GWU.
Both Mr Cammock, a senior shop steward, and Mr Doherty, a shop
steward, denied involvement in the alleged plot.
The Certification Officer found that Mr Lyons had broken MSF
rules on three counts. The ruling said he acted beyond his powers by
both authorising the disciplinary action and instructing a senior
union colleague to impose the suspensions in November 1999.
The general secretary also failed to follow procedures after
receiving a written appeal from the two Belfast shop stewards in
January 2000.
The judgement further concluded that MSF's National Executive
Committee had broken a union rule by endorsing the suspensions
retrospectively in December 1999.
As a result of his findings, the Certification Officer has
ordered MSF to reinstate Mr Cammock and Mr Doherty to their
positions.
However, both men lost their jobs at Shorts earlier this year in
a large-scale redundancy programme at the aerospace plant.
The MSF has now merged with the AEEU to form Amicus. Mr Lyons is
its joint general secretary with Sir Ken Jackson, a close ally of
Tony Blair. Sir Ken will shortly be stepping down after being voted
out by members.
Amicus has yet to make any public response to the ruling against
Mr Lyons, despite repeated attempts by the Belfast Telegraph to
obtain a comment.
A spokesman for Shorts today said: "The role of the Certification
Officer and the outcome of any investigation is purely a matter
between the trade union and the members concerned. It is therefore
not appropriate for the company to comment."
