Just as I was about to say I’d made a mistake with Friday’s post using the calls for Alasdair Thompson’s resignation as an example of double-standards from the left I read:
Labour list MP Carol Beaumont said it was clear Mr Thompson could not continue in his role, and the board should not need to deliberate so long about it.
“They are a large organisation representing companies that employ women workers and the attitude that Thompson displayed was unacceptable in 2011. I would have thought their decision was pretty clear-cut.”
The case does seem clear cut.
His initial mistake was not just what he said but how he said it without any evidence to back up his case.
But saying something stupid, being poorly prepared and expressing yourself badly is not a sackable offence.
However, Thompson then compounded the error in two interviews with TV3 which reflected very poorly on him and the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) he represents. I wrote on Friday that this still wasn’t a sackable offence but I was wrong.
A 21st century organisation cannot afford to have a CEO with antediluvian views who illustrates poor judgement and communication skills.
But even if the case is clear cut the board still had to give its employee a fair hearing.
Workers rights are one of the left’s raison d’êtres. They risk undermining them if they think they apply to only some employees.