Suspended union leader charges disciplinary action imposed before hearing

A week after a controversial failed resolution to create a new post of Secretary General “died” on the floor of a chaotic special general conference, the embattled leader for whom the post was destined along with the author of the petition which precipitated the proposed change, have now been suspended from the membership of the trade union.

The National Council – the highest decision-making organ in the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) – on Wednesday evening suspended President Akanni McDowall from membership, 24 hours before nominations for the upcoming elections were to close. The person who led the petition, Natalie Murray has also been suspended.

Acting General Secretary Wayne Walrond could not be reached up to news time for an official statement on the suspension and what led to it.

However, sources in the union said that McDowall and Murray are suspended until the outcome of an investigation which must be done within two weeks. After the findings there could be further action.

The source revealed: “He is suspended from presidency and membership. She is suspended from membership.”

It is also understood that they have 30 days in which to appeal the action.

However, in his defence on Thursday, McDowall told Barbados TODAY that up to this time, he had not been informed of the charges against him.

It also appears that he may have legal action on his mind.

“I have spoken to my lawyer, and we will respond accordingly,” he disclosed.

“It has come to my attention that the National Council of the NUPW has suspended my membership with immediate effect. Up until this time I have not been told what the charges are,” he stated.

“The irony is that if we were to face an employer that did something similar without stating why an employee was being punished or hearing their side of the story, the union would be up in arms,” the outspoken unionist declared.

“In my 20 years in the NUPW, I have never seen anyone face disciplinary action…but there is a clear process, including bringing such matters before the membership first. Why was this not done?” McDowall asked.

“What is even more convenient is the fact that today is nomination day for the presidency and, because of this suspension, I am being prevented from being nominated to run as president of the NUPW. Maybe this is their intention.

“It must be patently clear to all and sundry why such an unconventional approach was taken last week. There is an infiltration of the decision-making body of the union, giving them over to bad advice, to constant contravention of the rules and regulations of the union and to the detriment of representation of the workers.These “parasitic” actors are determined to make the union their puppet, and frankly, I want no part of it,” he declared.

The entire saga has thrown the NUPW into the national spotlight as it inches its way toward the elections next month.

In the most recent controversy, information circulating on social media suggested that “fabricated information” was linked to legitimate confidential documents allegedly leaked by some union official and intended to discredit the acting General Secretary Walrond.

At the time, Council member Fabian Jones explained to Barbados TODAY that the person who initiated the reports falsely linked Walrond’s spending on his private legal matter with that of the union’s expenditure on a separate and distinct internal legal issue.

When contacted today, Murray said: “I am not aware that I am suspended. I did not receive any correspondence to that effect. As soon as I receive any information the entire population of Barbados will know of my response.”

Commenting on the situation, retired president of the NUPW Walter Maloney explained that the rules of the organisation allow the council to suspend members based on the information before it and then set a hearing where the charges would be read and the affected member afforded a chance to answer.

“The council would have acted in their rights according to the constitution. I would suspect there will be a hearing and charges will be offered and given to him so that he can represent himself and the democratic process will go through,” the long-standing former union leader said. (emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb)