Bullying case by the United Services Union against Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun ends

A bullying case brought against Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun by his council’s unionised staff has been discontinued, with both parties accepting an end to the case after Mannoun read out a statement affirming his commitment to his council’s media policies.

The United Services Union, which represents about 600 workers at the council, lodged a claim in the Industrial Relations Commission in May this year after the mayor posted a Facebook video where he claimed the union had “bullied” the council’s deputy mayor, and included photos of union members taking industrial action. It claimed in the complaint that Mannoun’s actions placed members “in a collective position of risk and harm”, in an apparent “attempt to stoke community resentment against the union”. Mannoun rejected the allegations.

After several conciliation meetings, the union and mayor came to an agreement at the commission in late June.

“I affirm my commitment to the Liverpool City Council media policy,” he said at the Industrial Relations Commission hearing. He specifically affirmed clauses of the policy that require councillors engaging with the media to resolve personal differences privately and prohibit communication that could bring the council into disrepute.

In a statement following the proceedings, Mannoun said the case was “a waste of everyone’s time”.

“It’s unfortunate that the union went down this path,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that the leadership of the union keeps playing these games and wasting members’ time.

“Our focus is to deliver the best services possible for the community, and we hope that everyone, including the USU, can work with us … in an efficient manner, and stop being personal and attacking me for no reason.”

In a statement, the union’s Steve Donley said: “Ned’s bizarre video was addressed at conciliation. Mayor Mannoun agreed to blur out the faces of council staff on his future social media posts … [and] abide by his own council’s social media policy in future, and specifically to promote a positive, safe and harmonious council and to resolve personal differences privately.

“Mayor Mannoun further assured the commission he will comply with his own council’s social media policy in future, regarding posting humiliating, defamatory and offensive material.”

Mannoun was not asked to apologise, and was not held liable for any action.

The agreement followed months of tension between Mannoun and the union, sparked earlier when the union claimed that the council was planning to cut 140 jobs at a hastily organised extraordinary general meeting the following day. The cuts did not go ahead.