Labour Court recommends RTÉ remove reports from security staff files after bullying dispute

In 1999, the Labour Court recommended that Rte remove critical letters and reports linked to disciplinary hearings and a bullying and harassment dispute from the personnel files of five workers. Its recommendation was signed on 7 May. A worker represented by Services Industrial Professional Technical Union alleged bullying and harassment after a disciplinary hearing at which he represented a colleague. Rte rejected the allegations and said the worker and union refused to cooperate with its proposed investigation. The Court found that disciplinary hearings in December 1995 and January 1996 were handled unsatisfactorily, communication had failed and no satisfactory procedure was in place for bullying and harassment complaints. It recommended a formal acknowledgement, removal of related material from the five individuals' files, confirmation of those steps to claimants and the union, and professional support to communicate complaint procedures and train supervisors and managers.