“It’s absolutely disgraceful that our members have been treated in this way. The grievances were raised well over a year ago and still the governing body and the local authority are in denial,” says GMB London
GMB members who work at Bangabandhu School delivered a complaint to Tower Hamlets council on Monday November 20, about the way they have been treated following bullying behaviour by the then acting headteacher.
The support staff raised grievances and an independent investigation upheld the complaint by the support staff that the acting headteacher had failed to consult over changes to their contracts of employment.
The independent investigation stated that the headteacher’s behaviour amounted to bullying.
Despite this report, the governing body failed to take any disciplinary action against the acting headteacher. Following their own report, where none of the complainants were interviewed, the governing body appointed the headteacher permanently.
Anna Lee, regional organiser said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful that our members have been treated in this way. The grievances were raised well over a year ago and still the governing body and the local authority are in denial.
“We have raised this with the Mayor and the local authority and they have done nothing to deal with the workplace bullying that took place at Bangabandhu School. The governing body appears to reward bullying by permanently appointing the headteacher
shortly afterwards.
“What has been clear all along is that the authorities thought they could just sweep this under the carpet and it would go away.
“Our members are hard working, dedicated people who despite this distressing situation continue to do a fantastic job at the school. What is very clear is how our members will not give up until the school and the local authority acknowledge what has taken place and take the action that they should have taken in the first place.
“Our members and the GMB are not going anywhere.”
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