Construction union UCATT are demanding the immediate reinstatement of Len Ellis, their National Lay Representative in the Prison Service, who has been suspended on spurious charges of gross misconduct.

Mr Ellis, who is employed at HMP Whatton in Nottinghamshire, is currently suspended, following a campaign of harassment, bullying and victimisation against him by local management who have questioned his qualifications as an electrician.

Mr Ellis, who has been employed at HMP Whatton since September 2008, has previously supplied management with details of his qualifications on a number of occasions. Mr Ellis has previously experienced victimisation at the prison, when attempting to undertake his trade union duties and has received a formal apology for this.

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The level of bullying, harassment and victimisation against Mr Ellis has increased since he was appointed as UCATT's National Lay Representative for the Prison Service earlier this year.

UCATT have now written to Michael Spurr, the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service, which covers the Prison Service, seeking Mr Ellis' immediate reinstatement.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "This is an appalling case of bullying, harassment and victimisation. No worker should be subjected to such actions, however these problems are all too frequently experienced by our members in the Prison Service.

"The Prison Service must stop burying its head in the sand and take effective action to prevent the bullying and victimisation of workers by management. They can begin to do that by immediately reinstating UCATT's representative."

(CD/JP)