Trade union leaders were this week calling for a legal investigation after a council raided union offices and confiscated anti-transfer material
Members of public sector union Unison were outraged when they discovered that Richmond council officers had entered their office and taken the leaflets.

Embarrassed council bosses were later forced to hand back the material, which urged tenants to turn down the proposed transfer to Richmond Housing Partnership.

Housing director Peter Wilson ordered a "full investigation" into the possibility of misuse of council facilities and breaches of copyright.

In a statement, the council claimed the material, being stored in the office for the Tenants Against the Sell-Off group, was discovered "accidentally" by staff.

The council admitted that tenants are free to oppose the transfer, but added that it is "concerned about the production and distribution of misleading information."

"In the event, the council has completed its investigation into the matter and is satisfied that there has been no improper use of council facilities or officer time," the statement concluded. "It has, consequently, handed the leaflets back to a Unison official."

But Unison said it may ask for a Queen's Counsel to investigate the incident, which was described by one source as a "smash and grab raid".

The source added: "It is totally outrageous. Unison members were only looking after the leaflets.

"The union office has confidential papers on a number of individual members' cases. Council officers went into the office and had access to a lot of confidential information."

Source

Housing Today