Date Tue 12 Sept 2006

Threats to staff at Glasgow Fingerprint Bureau - UNISON reaction

UNISON today condemned threats to force the resignation or retirement of six staff of Glasgow' Fingerprint Bureau, without any evidence of wrongdoing and in the middle of an enquiry run by the Scottish Parliament into the Scottish Criminal Records Office.

Anne Russell, UNISON's Regional Officer said "It is outrageous that - in the middle of a Parliamentary Enquiry, and when every enquiry has cleared them of wrong doing - six members of staff are now being harassed in this manner by a senior police officer.

"It is even more outrageous that these threats are being made by an individual who is not even their employer.

"If David Mulhern thinks that this draconian approach is the way he intends to manage staff in any new service then staff will be thinking twice if not three times before they transfer.

"Individuals should not be able to play fast and loose with employment law and with parliament's activities in this way. Unless these threats are withdrawn, UNISON will be talking to our lawyers, to the staff affected and to the staff as a whole to decide our next steps in backing our members rights.”

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Anne Russell (Regional Officer) 07904 341 971 Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 07715 583 729(m) Ken Macintosh MSP 07971 961 158(m) Des McNulty MSP 07714 450 850 (m)

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