BRITAIN: The leader of Aslef, the UK train drivers' union, was sacked yesterday for what was termed "gross misconduct". Mr Shaun Brady was given the news in a letter delivered by courier to his home and now has six weeks to launch an appeal to save his job.
He has been suspended from his post of general secretary of Aslef since May following an alleged fracas at a barbecue held at the union's head office in north London.
The dismissal was not connected to the brawl but related to a charge of failing to carry out the instructions of the executive to co-operate with an independent inquiry into the union's affairs, carried out by the eminent QC, Mr Matthias Kelly. Mr Brady appeared before Aslef's executive on Thursday to face seven disciplinary charges, emerging to admit that his job was on the line.
In a statement, the union said the executive found Mr Brady guilt of gross misconduct, adding: "He is dismissed from office."
He was also censured for bringing the union into disrepute, although he was cleared of deliberately attempting to mislead Mr Kelly's inquiry.
Mr Brady (41) had also been accused of using his Aslef credit card to obtain a £6,228.13 cash advance and not accounting for it, but the executive said it accepted an explanation given during Thursday's hearing.
Three other charges, including another of bringing the union into disrepute, were deferred because witnesses had not turned up at the disciplinary hearing.
A committee made up of representatives from eight Aslef regions will be set up to consider any appeal, and its decision will be binding. Mr Brady was suspended along with assistant general secretary, Mr Mick Blackburn, and the president, Mr Martin Samways, five days after the barbecue incident.
Mr Samways has since resigned and Mr Blackburn will face a disciplinary hearing next week.
The Kelly report accused Mr Brady of handling the union's staff "aggressively and insensitively". It said he had engaged in a power struggle.
The union's annual conference was suspended in June and has been rescheduled for September.
The Aslef leader has been at odds with his executive since he was surprisingly elected general secretary last year, beating a left- wing opponent, Mr Mick Rix.
Mr Brady took office in October but has since been involved in a series of clashes with the union's leadership and with his staff.
He threatened some head office staff with dismissal, forcing the TUC to intervene and broker a peace deal between Mr Brady and the GMB union, which represents staff.