"Harassed" Mudchute staff want trustee overhaul

They plan to call for the removal of Mr Johnston - who was appointed to the role last year - in an emergency AGM next week, as well as the replacement of all of the 15 current trustees. It is claimed the move has stemmed from "14 months of a lack of action by trustees in dealing with staff grievances".

Members of the GMB union - which represents farm staff - report that workers and management are "deadlocked", and that "there are serious problems that need to be dealt with".

Kathy McTasney, GMB Shop Steward said: “GMB members working at Mudchute Farm just want to get on with the work they love doing for community and visitors to the farm.
"However, the management and Trustees have failed to sort out the employment problems after fourteen months of inaction. We have to take strike action to demonstrate the strength of feeling amongst the staff and that we will not tolerate the serious bullying and harassment problems at the farm.
"GMB members believe that the only way open to the Trustees now is to hold an Emergency AGM to open the way to solve the problem. We need new Trustees and a new CEO given that the existing Trustees failure to deal with this intolerable situation.�

Chief executive Andrew Johnston arrived at Mudchute Farm as Tower Hamlets Council auditors unearthed "a number of control issues" in book-keeping. He has since assumed full responsibility over matters relating to expenditure, and implemented "fairly robust procedures" that he admits may have been "misconstrued as overly controlling or aggressive."

But he pointed out that no staff have been made redundant on the farm despite difficult financial conditions, and that employees received a 5.9 per cent pay rise in July.

He said: "I completely reject the allegations of harassment and bullying lodged against me personally. I've been prepared to meet the managers in any context and forum that they choose, but they have chosen not to enter into any discussions with me.
"This is more a matter for the trustees than for me right now. The feeling is that the trustees have not listened to staff and taken their concerns seriously. But I believe they have worked very hard to understand the issues that have arisen, and they have all been dealt with through due process.
"The trustees have also offered negotiations with ACAS, which the staff did not want, despite the fact I understand the London branch of the GMB union suggested they should do so. We're working very hard to overcome any problems that exist at the moment."