Last March, Mark Walker, a teacher at the Sunnydale Community College for Maths and Computing in County Durham, was suspended from his job on full pay after it was found that he accessed the website of the BNP during a lesson. At the time, his candidature had been announced for the BNP in the local elections and he was also acting as election agent for the Sedgefield ex-BNP candidate Andrew Spence. His suspension was for 'misuse of school computer equipment'.Sunnydale is a pretty standard school, a mixed comprehensive for 11-16 year olds, and certainly doesn't deserve a teacher who sees fit to wander around a fascist website whenever the fancy takes him, happy in the knowledge that one of the pupils could see what he's looking at any time they get too close to his screen.
Curiously, just a month before this incident, Walker's brother Adam did exactly the same thing but upon being suspended, resigned, to shouts of 'coward' and general abuse from the Stormfront nazi forum.
Attempting to play on the heartstrings of its audience, the press release from BNP front-group Civil Liberty (duplicated word for word on the Solidarity and BNP's own websites, on the Stormfront nazi forum and the even more hardcore nazi Vanguard forum) points out that much of the 'harrowing' period of Mark Walker's suspension coincided with his wife being pregnant. So did his own election in May and that of Andrew Spence in July but there's no mention of either of those as in any way contributing to his stress levels.
Now, rather than let this be a matter to be dealt with solely through the school's disciplinary procedure, all these BNP-related groups have combined to call for a demonstration and picket of the school on the first day of the new term, next Monday and, just to make sure they disrupt the pupils as much as possible, they're calling for the picket to begin at 8am. They also call for supporters to swamp the mail, email, fax and phone lines - let's hope none of the kids has an accident while the BNP and the other scumbags are taking up the lines with unnecessary calls.
Schoolteacher or not, to involve children in any way in this kind of action is despicable. There can be nothing wrong with Walker being present at his hearing with his union representative - even if it is just some buffoon from the fake union Solidarity - but a demo and a picket at the school gates is going too far. If for nothing else, Walker should be sacked just for encouraging this shameful demonstration to take place.
35 comments:
A bunch of nazis hanging around school gates. Sounds great. What a PR coup! We should all rush off and get some pictures for all the papers just to show what unprincipled scum they are.
Why is there no mention here, of the BNP's by-election victory last night?
Why should there be a mention of it? Nothing much happened. You kept the seat with a reduced vote and you now have precisely the same number of councillors you had a few weeks ago - though one less than you had before May, of course. Not all that exciting really.
Does anyone happen to know if the scab union Solidarity is recognised by Spence’s 9or indeed anyones) employers?
If not then the muppets behind Solidarity are about to get a shock introduction to the basics of employment law, and Solidarity’s handful of members are about to realise what an utter waste of money relying upon them for representation is.
One of the issues regarding Mark Walker is whether the rules on Internet use are being consistently applied. If policies and procedures are only enforced by employers against people whose 'face doesn't fit' (for whatever reason) that is discriminatory and wrong.
As to the poster who asked if Solidarity were recognised by employers:-
1. Solidarity reps have attended hearings at Sunnydale, Honda and GNER thus far.
2. They have been involved in a range of cases providing advice and guidance or speaking informally to employers to settle issues.
3. The right to take a Solidarity rep to grievance and disciplinary hearings is statutory and does not require the permission or recognition of any employer.
Reference is made to Solidarity being a 'scab' Union. As a member I would take issue with this. Solidarity respects picket lines and disputes called by other Unions. Should the situation in Sunnydale escalate into an official dispute we would expect the other Unions there to respect our picket line too. If they crossed it we would regard them as scabs.
As to the protest.
Everyone has mobile phones these days so even if the advertised landline were blocked (unlikely on a switchboard) calls could still be made. There is no safety issue.
It is unfortunate that a picket is deemed necessary. This issue should be capable of resolution without further escalation. The issue need not be poliitcised and an amicable and commonsense resolution could be reached.
The focus and commentary on BNP membership in this case was always likely to provoke members of that Party.I am sure, however, that Solidarity will be open to informal discussion in the same way as other Unions if the employer acts reasonably.
In general it should also be noted that a School is a workplace and part of the community. Simply because it is a School does not mean that it is out-of-bounds for industrial action or protest. If a Socialist Teacher was being hounded I think that few of your commentators would be arguing that schools should be exempt from protest!
Why should there be a mention of it? Nothing much happened.
I'm pretty certain if the BNP had lost the seat you would have been crowing and predicting the end....I don't even support the BNP but i can see what an unprincipled lot you are
Does anyone happen to know if the scab union Solidarity is recognised by Spence’s 9or indeed anyones) employers?
You don't have to be recognised to obtain good representation. If that were the case all those workers that are part of no union would be vulnerable. Recognition equals collective bargaining, an altogether different matter. By the way why is Solidarity a Scab Union? Is this just another negative word wheeled out from your special vocabularly such as muppet and scum. Some of the posters here are as bad as the Nazis you allegedly despise.
Why should there be a mention of it? Nothing much happened. You kept the seat with a reduced vote and you now have precisely the same number of councillors you had a few weeks ago - though one less than you had before May, of course. Not all that exciting really.
Probably the most interesting thing to have come out of the election was that the former controllers of the ward - Labour - could now only get 8% and finish a very poor fourth. And that none of the main parties could come anywhere near winning the seat - the LibDems doing best, at about 12%.
This is not, of course, a 'typical' result for the whole country, but it does help to show the level to which the 'main' parties have sunk in so many people's estimation.
i am growing increasingly concerned about the number of nazi postings we are getting on this site. Im all for free speech etc, but are they posting on here because their own nazi party will not allow them to say what they want to say on any of their sites.
'Does anyone happen to know if the scab union Solidarity is recognised by Spence’s 9or indeed anyones) employers?'
You mean Walkers? I doubt it anyway. Who would regard any BNP-run union as in any way legitimate?
'The right to take a Solidarity rep to grievance and disciplinary hearings is statutory and does not require the permission or recognition of any employer.'
Employees have a right to take anyone with them - even a Solidarity rep.
'If a Socialist Teacher was being hounded I think that few of your commentators would be arguing that schools should be exempt from protest!'
As I'm not a Socialist, I wouldn't know but I think you'd find this type of action would generally be deemed out of order at the entrance to a school.
'I'm pretty certain if the BNP had lost the seat you would have been crowing...'
Certainly we would - we're an anti-fascist blog opposed to the BNP, or hadn't you noticed? The fact that the position hasn't changed a bit following the election makes the whole event a er, non-event. Anyway, this comment section is about Mark Walker.
'Is this just another negative word wheeled out from your special vocabularly such as muppet...'
I think you'll find the only person who uses the word 'muppet' on here is the glue-sniffing scumbag Kevin Watmough. Whoops, did I say 'scum'? Oh well.
'...the LibDems doing best, at about 12%'
Good on the Lib-Dems. More power to them. And that's the last post about the election.
'i am growing increasingly concerned about the number of nazi postings we are getting on this site. Im all for free speech etc, but are they posting on here because their own nazi party will not allow them to say what they want to say on any of their sites.'
That's precisely why they're posting on here. You'll remember that both the BNP and Stormfront forums virtually banned any mention of the Andrew Spence debacle. We gained a lot of information through the comments as well as a great deal more (such as the McLean resignation) through emails received as a result of those comments - all very valuable.
Frankly, if we didn't post the information we do and receive the comments/emails we do, BNP members wouldn't have a clue what's going on in their own party, and we do like to keep them informed. :-)
Well said on all of that.
Surely his best defense would be that despite him looking at nationalist sites his politics didn't impact upon his ability to teach. Turning up with a rent-a-mob on the first day of term to block the front gates doesn't exactly support that argument.
antifacists explanation of why the bnp are posting on here is logical and reasonable and i thank him/her for answering my concern.
but i do take umbridge at being called Kevin Whatmough, i have used the word 'muppet' quite a few times in my postings on this and other like minded sites, and im one of the good guys, so please no more linking my postings with that nasty little scumbag,muppet,nazi.
there is no defence for this teacher, he had a class of children his job is to teach, not sitting there surfing the net for his own personal gratification. he should have been doing the job that he is paid public money for.
there are in excess of 10500 councillors in the UK excluding Wales scotland and northern ireland
Now the BNP have 49 councillors and feel they have reason to celebrate??
I know some hear'say fans screaming for a comeback
Irrelevant nazis
Pat Harrington said - Should the situation in Sunnydale escalate into an official dispute we would expect the other Unions there to respect our picket line too.
Ha bloody ha! It'll be a bloody small picket line. All two of you.
Stop hiding behind anonymous Harrington. Fact is your "union" is so small you have to come to a UAF blog to get publicity for it.
Got the laptop yet?
I will shortly be going to the media with the BNP membership list.
If the BNP doesn't want this to happen you better pay up what was rightfully my money for the court case.
You have 24 hours.
Hello Simon, hope you are reading this.
Hang on, i thought ex-solidarity general secretary patrick harrington was suspended!!!
Maybe someone should tell the head mistress :-)
Unfortunately the manegement have to acept a "Solidarity" rep as representative.
That does not mean to say that they are oblidged to acept the arguments put forward.
It would argue that the offices held, and the access taken act as good proof of the original accusation.
What preturbs me is that this individual has been suspended on FULL PAY for some months.
This in its self is an abuse, he should have been dealt with within weeks, not months.
Old Sailor
'antifacists explanation of why the bnp are posting on here is logical and reasonable and i thank him/her for answering my concern.
but i do take umbridge at being called Kevin Whatmough...'
Thank you for the former and apologies for the latter.
'I will shortly be going to the media with the BNP membership list...'
You could send it to us. We'll make sure it gets to some people who will certainly make use of it.
That way, if you had the information, this UAF blog can take the piss out of the behind-the-scene clowns who sponsor and support the BNP including convicted drug dealers, fraudsters, and other criminals.
The BNP's a party led and funded by unprincipled scammers who care little for their rank and file members, so long as Griffin stays in power until his spoilt brat of a daughter takes over when Griffin retires.
This in its self is an abuse, he should have been dealt with within weeks, not months.
Common ground at last old Sailor! I'm sure Solidarity will put this argument forward. The process itself has been drawn out causing stress and acting as a form of punishment in itself. It indicates very poor management and ill-conceived and badly defined allegations.
"Anonymous said...
I will shortly be going to the media with the BNP membership list.
If the BNP doesn't want this to happen you better pay up what was rightfully my money for the court case.
You have 24 hours.
Hello Simon, hope you are reading this."
Is the above a pathetic attempt to be me? I don't need to blackmail with membership lists, I just pick up the phone to the fraud squad and EC and tell em to trace and rip the guts out of the BNP's Payscam line, sorry, Paypal line.
Zero Regards
Sharon Ebanks
Stop hiding behind anonymous Harrington. Fact is your "union" is so small you have to come to a UAF blog to get publicity for it.
Yes, he only has three Union websites, a Party one (or two?) and numerous Nationalist blogs to put his views over. You seem to see him everywhere but the truth is that you are chasing shadows. It was Lancaster UAF that posted the original article wasn't it?
Ha bloody ha! It'll be a bloody small picket line. All two of you.
Well I shall attend if it gets to that so that will be at least three! Even if there was a picket of one you would stil be a scab if you crossed the line. See how that goes down in an old mining area.
I've followed this for months now and have mixed views. I don't agree with BNP policies and don't think a teacher should surf the web either. Having said that, I know many teachers who access the web for personal use, so if the issue IS inappropriate use of equipment then why has nobody else been chastised. I believe a 'fair' punishment would have been a written warning (applied to all teachers at that school found to have broken the rule)and agreement to refrain from further incidents.
I'd be interested to see how many parents, former pupils etc turn up to demonstrate in support, rather than just activists.
But there are two elements to this; personal use of the Internet (which some but not all staff IT policies count as misconduct) and accessing websites which the school judge to be racially offensive, I don't think I've ever seen a staff IT policy that doesn't count accessing such material as a n act of misconduct. If all the other staff are accessing Stormfront but escaping punishment you may have a valid point.
Another point aren't BNP members proscribed from Stormfront? If so why aren't the BNP themselves taking action rather then mobilising their scab union/front group to defend his right to access it at work?
P.S. it'll be interesting to see if anyone turns up to my knowledge this was the last time the BNP organised a picket: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/12/329633.html
time is ticking away Simon. Better get a move on...come up with the goods darling, or i publish the membership list. Run along now...
Regards
Sharon Ebanks
Dear Anon - Nope ! No Common ground.
The Herbert should have been sacked within the week for "Gross Misconduct".
That the schools resourses should have been squandered whilt the BNP and thier chums arse around is criminal.!
I don't think Mark Walker did any other than look at the BNP site which is hardly a crime whether some libertarians here might like it or not.
Yes he may have broken local rules (don't personally know) but the many teachers who have, have only received warnings which seems appropriate. The problem the school will have is that looking at a website is a minor offence and what they thought was a good excuse to attack a BNP member will come back to haunt them if they continue to treat it as a major one. When you try and apply rules selectively it usually ends in tears. All they will achieve is to give the BNP unwarranted publity. Another stupid own goal.
I think that a lot of teachers do more than they are contractually obliged to do. They give their spare time for out of school actiivities. I would like to know if this is the case with this teacher. If it is it would seem unfair to discipline him for using 'down-time' in lesson periods when kids are working on projects. If he had been reading a book there would be no log and no -one would be saying anything (the wonders of our observed society!).
There is no legal definition of gross misconduct, so really don't know if looking at the internet during work time is such a serious offence. I think people should cool this situation down and remove the political element.
Re. the post about offensive sites. Most schools have filtering software. It is difficult to know what would be deemed offensive if it is not blocked. I have even found some anti-fa sites blocked by software or by the server. If you look at the BNP site it seems to vary from area to area. In some areas you can look at it in public libraries in others not.
I find the Mail quite offensive but I don't know if I would like someone else deciding I couldn't view it. Sometimes it is good to be offended as it makes you think deeply.
I don't think I've ever seen a staff IT policy that doesn't count accessing such material as a n act of misconduct.
Is there a specific staff IT policy at Sunnydale? I've only been able to find one for students. I think that if you are going to monitor internet use and emails you would need express consent from staff (that's why most places get them to sign a form). Otherwise you are likely to be in breach of Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention.
There is no legal definition of gross misconduct, so really don't know if looking at the internet during work time is such a serious offence.
Three Unison members have been sacked and five resigned after being confronted over their internet use at work. It will be interesting to see if Unison backs the three sacked workers or caves in. It may have implications for the Walker case.
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