Union chiefs shamed by brawl report

An appalling picture of drinking and violence is revealed today in a report into a brawl between union leaders.

The six-page document attacks rival Aslef officials. The three-member panel of the Trades Union Congress who compiled the report also condemns the union hierarchy for its "very drink- and pub-related culture".

The brawl - in which a woman employee was hit - took place between union president Martin Samways and general secretary Shaun Brady at a barbecue at the Aslef HQ in Hampstead.

The report is particularly critical of Mr Samways and concludes he struck Julie Atkinson - although it was unable to establish whether this was deliberate.

"The fact is, however, that a member of staff (Ms Atkinson) was subject to a sustained verbal battering from the president on the night in question," said the report. "We are satisfied that this was by no means a one-off occurrence, but that Mr Samways used this type of language previously to women staff including Ms Atkinson.

"This verbal battering was followed by Ms Atkinson being struck on the mouth by the president, one of the most senior figures in the union. The president's conduct was wholly unacceptable."

Mr Brady was found to have "used more force than was necessary," states the report, in his efforts to restrain Mr Samways. The two men fell to the ground. The report, goes on to say that some witnesses were frightened to give evidence.

"We got the strong impression that witnesses who wished to speak the whole truth were literally prevented from doing so by genuine and, we are unhappy to report, realistic fear as to the impact of this on their livelihoods," said the TUC panel.

"The report says the union must now "take steps to turn itself around and replace what appears to us to be a self-destructive culture with one of which its members can be proud".

Of Mr Samways, the report says: "There is no doubt, even on his own admission, that he was loud and abusive at the barbecue ... it is our finding of fact that Mr Samways's involvement was the loudest and most verbally aggressive, though the officials and staff present also engaged in argument."

The report continues: "After about half an hour of verbal argument the general secretary physically removed the president from the decking on which the barbecue had taken place."

The incident follows a feud between Mr Brady, an admitted Blairite who won control of the union last October when he replaced Left-winger Mick Rix.

The union's controlling executive committee discussed the report behind closed doors for more than six hours last night. It took legal advice on what it could do. The committee has already suspended both Mr Samways and Mr Brady. Also suspended was deputy general secretary Mick Blackburn and three employees, including Ms Atkinson. The TUC report effectively says there was no basis for suspending the three employees and that they should be reinstated.

There is minor criticism of Mr Blackburn for failing to do more to halt the brawl. All three officials could now dispute the findings and could mount a legal challenge.

Mr Brady, 41, told the Evening Standard before details of the report were revealed: "I did what any other man would have done. A man turned up and started abusing women and lashed out at one of them. I restrained him."

The barbecue brawl comes amid separate allegations of financial irregularities at the powerful union. Mr Brady has stated publicly that there are reports the union now has a "?1 million deficit" compared with a ?500,000 surplus early last year.