Saturday 14th September

News Item

Unexpelled!
Back in February 2002 David Beaumont was the first person ever to be expelled from amicus, over this web site and www.rogerlyons.com. David and his representative Ian Rez turned up today to present his case to the National Executive Committee, David sporting a rogerlyons.com T shirt. They were informed that the meeting was running late. After 3/4 hour of waiting the General Secretary Roger Lyons and the new President Dave Trafford ushered them into a room and told them that the NEC had been discussing his case for all this time without him! The NEC had taken legal advice and were upholding his appeal. As of today the first person ever to be expelled from amicus is now un-expelled!

Annoyed that they had been kept waiting and been misled, David and Ian questioned the general secretary and president on WHEN they had got legal advice and what it was. They refused to show the advice or to describe it. Lyons did indicate that David's 'further and better particulars' for his Employment Tribunal case, due in October, had prompted their decision. This document is a list of every assertion made by David regarding MSF officials (a total of 48!) plus a list of every MSF rule they have broken (26!). We may publish it later, read on. Lyons also mentioned section 65 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act, the basis of David's Employment Tribunal. Section 65 protects the free speech of members who assert that union officials have broken union rules or are corrupt.

David and Ian pressed them as to whether the disciplinary for the websites would continue under more legal grounds, they wouldn't give a straight answer. David asked them about his disciplinary for supporting Ken Livingstone in the London Mayor nominations. This has been going on for so long, 3 years, that they had forgotten all about it. They wouldn't say it would cease. David pressed them whether all witch hunts would now stop and sentences be revoked. The president, whilst not accepting that witch hunts had gone, did indicate that while he was in charge such things might stop. Lyons waffled something about changes in the union, election of Derek Simpson etc..... David and Ian pressed them again, they would not commit to anything apart from saying that David is finally un-expelled after some 7 months.

Lyons shook hands with David. Ian wished Roger a happy 60th birthday and added that when he got to 60 he planned to retire. Denied the opportunity to present their case, David may shortly publish his planned NEC speech. It doesn't hold anything back. Watch this space.

They obviously think David will now have to drop his Employment Tribunal, due to start on 14th October. However David is working on the basis that he will go ahead with his ET but that MSF will plead guilty. Unless of course the NEC are prepared to stop the witch hunts.

As his part of the possible new policy of being fair and honest with the members, David openly publishes his requirements:

1 Cessation of all the witch hunts (sorry president, "political disciplinary actions") against union members
2 Revocation of all sentences for those in union already victims of "political disciplinary actions"
3 Allowing Dr Sue Michie to take her seat as elected NEC member with immediate effect.
4 An undertaking to follow the rule book in all future disciplinary action, i.e. to allow branches or regional councils to conduct the investigation and only proceed where these bodies recommend it.
5 Written apologies to those who have been witch hunted (oops there we go again, "politically disciplined")
6 Full Retraction of the false and offensive antisemitism charge against him

In return David will undertake to

1 Cease his Employment Tribunal case
2 Refrain from publishing his Employment Tribunal "further and better particulars"
3 Remove any MSF copyright logo from both websites
4 Publish a very favourable article about the turnaround in the leaderships attitude
5 Review past articles in the light of any complaints made to him
6 Reconsider his forthcoming Certification Officer hearing re election rigging for the Women's NEC seat.

The websites will of course stay up, however were Lyons to honour his commitment to retire next year and hand over to Derek Simpson, www.rogerlyons.com would be retired as well.
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 15th September 2002