'Bullying' union chief urged to quit

Joy Pugh's case for bullying has tarnished Unison's position

A senior trade union official has called for the regional head of Unison in Wales to step down after his former secretary was awarded compensation for workplace bullying.

Joy Pugh, 48, received £90,000 compensation after bringing a claim for harassment against Unison regional secretary Derek Gregory.

Derek Gregory: Urged to quit

Swansea County Court heard that Mrs Pugh suffered panic attacks, depression, sleepless nights and loss of libido after six years working for Mr Gregory. Mrs Pugh had also made bullying claims against the union's senior administrator, Beverley Cole.

Unison has been in the frontline of trying to stamp out workplace bullying and abuse.

Phil Jones, Unison's branch officer in Merthyr Tydfil, said Mrs Pugh's case totally undermined the union's campaign.

He claimed grass roots members wanted both Mr Gregory and Ms Cole to step down. He added the union had "tried to sweep the whole affair under the carpet".

Mr Jones said he intended to call an urgent meeting of the union's regional committee and he has called on Unison's General Secretary, Dave Prentise, to attend.

Everyone I've spoken with feels they should both go

Phil Jones, Unison branch official

"I deal with bullying cases on a daily basis, and I feel our credibility has been undermined by this," said Mr Jones.

"How could it not, when we have a regional secretary plastered across the newspapers for apparently being a bully at work?

"Ironically enough, I was in a bullying case yesterday morning, and I could see the sniggers on the faces of people I had to deal with before the case started.

"Everyone I've spoken with feels they should both go. Members look on this £90,000 payment as part and parcel of their subscriptions."

At the court hearing, Mrs Pugh said that her self-confidence had been destroyed and she had decided to change careers to become a self-employed aromatherapist.

She claimed that Mr Gregory was persistently rude and shouted at her.

Mrs Pugh worked at the Unison offices

He also threw files around the office, exaggerated faults in her work.

Judge Graham Jones said two doctors had found Mrs Pugh had suffered from depression and anxiety as a result of stress at work.

He awarded Mrs Pugh £89,696 in damages for negligence and breach of contract.

Unison said both Mr Gregory and Ms Cole have been exonerated after an internal investigation.

An industrial tribunal, which had been delayed until after the county court case, can now go ahead.

A spokesman for Unison said until they see the full details of the ruling they would be unable to make a full statement.

Mr Gregory was understood to be on holiday in South Africa.