TREATMENT OF MICHAEL GAVAN

That this House views with alarm the disciplinary action being taken against Michael Gavan, Chair of the Newham local government branch of UNISON; notes that he faces charges of withholding information from management as he refused to betray the confidence of trade union members he was representing; believes that trade union representatives must be independent of the employer and owe a duty of confidentiality to those they represent; and therefore calls on the London Borough of Newham to withdraw its disciplinary action against Mr Gavan.