When government cuts start to affect you and your family this winter I want you to remember English teacher Joyce Walters who was awarded £150,000 in an out-of-court settlement by Hillingdon council for damage to her vocal cords caused by her shouting at students.
According to Ms Walters her injuries are so severe she now suffers from hoarseness when making herself heard in noisy bars. It must be hell.
Now, let us review the case of Pauline Scanlon, awarded £442,000 for being ‘excluded from meetings’ and having her efforts ‘undervalued’ by Redcar and Cleveland Council.
Ms Scanlon made her first public sector claim in 1995 when she was awarded £5,000 compensation from Liverpool city council for ‘sexual harassment.’
Her next employer, Liverpool Federation of Council Tenants paid her £4,000 in an interim settlement for discriminating against her union membership.
In 2002 Pendle council in Lancashire paid Ms Scanlon an undisclosed sum following a complaint she made against them. For Ms Scanlon it has clearly been a dreadful decade.
When you add to these ‘settlements’ the public sector’s propensity for ‘gardening leave’ and the huge pay-off packages handed to incompetent managers you get an idea of the colossal cost to you, the taxpayer.
So when senior police officers, educationalists and council chiefs tell you the only avenue for savings is to cut front-line services treat it with the contempt it deserves.
The views on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express
