Insistent that council were right to sack staff over perv e-mails

Dec 24 2008

I WOULD like to thank the Advertiser for publishing my letter a couple of weeks ago in which I said South Lanarkshire Council were right to sack staff caught sending smutty e-mails, and for publishing a reply to it from Unison rep Stephen Smellie.

Fair dos to Mr Smellie for wanting to back up his sacked friends/comrades, for they would demand the backing of the union after all the contributions they have paid out.

I am, however, wondering what the decent members of Unison think: those who don’t sit around at work wasting public money by surfing the internet and sending/making/forwarding vile e-mails.

I do understand it would be a traumatic time for the families of these sacked individuals, especially at this time of year and in the current financial climate. But if those involved had been conducting themselves in the manner expected of a public servant, instead of ‘carrying on’ at work, then they would still be in a job.

Take, for instance, one of the ‘ring leaders’ involved; a gentleman with many years’ service. I feel sorry for his family but if a relative of mine was sacked for the offences he has been accused of, I would be ashamed. I am sure a lot of decent people out there would love to get the chance to work for the council.

The amount of sacked workers was listed as being 15. That would probably be right, going by the amount of social workers’ jobs that were recently advertised on the SLC website. In any case, even if it were five, 10, 15 or even just one perverted social worker, that would be one too many. They certainly do deserve the sack.

Season's greetings to all Hamilton Advertiser readers.

Hysterical reader.