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 that he had been bullied after giving evidence in an investigation involving another security officer. Rte rejected the allegations and said he had refused to cooperate with internal procedures. 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 the claimants and union, and professional support to communicate the complaint policy and train supervisors and managers.