The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 131 Suffolk Fire Strike Press Release

CDJ/FBU/F98/60224
Lin Homer
Chief Executive
Suffolk County Council
St Helen Court
County Hall
Ipswich
Suffolk IP4 2JS
By Post only
22nd April, 1999
Dear Mrs homer,
FIREFIGHTER MICHAEL HYDE
YOUR REFERENCE: LMH/SMM/HQ10
I am instructed to represent Mr Michael Hyde who wrote to you on 6th March 1999 asking you to intervene in the progress of a grievance procedure. I have seen copy of your letter of 8th April 1999 to Mr Hyde.
Mr Hyde moved his grievance to stage 4.1.10 of the Suffolk County Council Grievance Procedure on 20th February 1999 and was advised by letter dated 22nd February 1999 that Deputy Chief Fire Officer smith would make arrangements for a meeting to take place as soon as possible. The seven days stipulated in paragraph 4.1.15 of the grievance procedure came an went without any further contact so Mr Hyde wrote to the Chief Fire Officer on 28th February 1999 asking for the grievance to proceed to the next stage, stage 4.1.12 – hearing before the Appeals Panel, as he is automatically entitled to do under 4.1.15. the grievance procedure is, as clearly stated at paragraph 5 of page 1, part of the employee’s contract of employment and therefore Fire- fighter Hyde is now contractually entitled to have his grievance heard by the Appeals Panel. The assurances that you have given and to which you refer at the end of your letter appear to be without foundation.
I am not sure who is responsible for arranging the hearing, but will be grateful if you will please take steps to ensure that it is arranged to take place as soon as possible and perhaps let me know what steps are taking place.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours sincerely
Craig Jones
For THOMPSONS