Argyll and Bute Council has considered the series of complaints by community company Eilean Eisdeal against the respected ferryman for Easdale Island at a meeting in Oban this afternoon.
The meeting was attended by its CEO, Sally Loudon, senior officer Martin Gorringe and the officer in charge of council ferry services, Ian Macfadyen.
We understand that the outcome of the meeting was a dismissal of the complaints which were found to be groundless; and unequivocal support for the ferryman.
The CEO is to communicate with those concerned.
We published the story behind these complaints earlier today – an updated version of which can be found here.
The council is to be congratulated on the speed of its response and for its support of a responsible and abused employee.
Given that these complaints were against at employee and apparently made by a public elected person (granted he wasn’t a local Councillor) I would hope that the Council would be doing more than simply dismissing the complaint as groundless.
If the Council are of the opinion that the complaints are without base then they should be being publicly supportive of their employee and making a formal complaint about the conduct of the MSP.
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We understand that the situation you envisage is that to be followed by the council’s CEO.
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It’s a great pity that the upset MSP didn’t buy a new book of ferry tickets before he ran out of them.
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Well well, that’s FA having a go at both Mikeyboy Russell and Mike MacKenzie – but despair not ’cause yon Tory list fella McGirgor??? will continue to get his press releases put on here.
In case you’ve not noticed – ‘radical’ Newsie is in fact a Tory.
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You are a laugh, Simon.
Editorially and personally I judge nothing on a party political basis but on an issue by issue and person by person basis.
It is worth noting that Jamie McGrigor is unique amongst MSPs in never playing the man but focusing on the issues – and almost always on the positives of what needs to be done rather than on what has has not been done.
Not one press release from him or from his office has ever slagged off someone from another party.
He has supported key issues that matter to people in specific working environments and we find the accuracy of his political nose a fascinating phenomenon.
For myself, I was a lifelong socialist who celebrated the first Blair victory until – quite quickly – his performance as arguably the most damaging Prime Minister this country has ever had made me politically homeless. My core philosophy, in abstract terms, remains socialist but I am an independent floating voter now, supporting candidates and issues – not parties – on what seems the merit of the moment.
Lynda
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I am reliably informed by people present that the list MSP did swear at the rope handler.
Not the sort of behaviour one should expect from a list MSP
The words Not Fit For Purpose spring to mind.
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Is the MSP telling lies then?
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‘I did make a minor comment/complaint on Monday about the ferrymen arriving back slightly late after their lunch break.’
This can easily equate to swearing at a ferryman. Not a lie, more like thinking that swearing at folk is merely a comment and as such is acceptable – although I don’t suppose for a minute that he would make the same comment to Alex Salmond, Therefore I believe it shows his lack of respect to those who provide a public service.
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If this was his comment on the situation, I wonder what this MSP would consider to be the definition of a ‘minor comment/complaint’ if it was him on the receiving end?
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I’m glad to hear that the CEO of Argyll & Bute council will be writing personally to Alex Salmond about the disgraceful abusive behaviour of Mike Mackenzie MSP, behaviour that the constituents of Oban have been hearing about for 30 years.
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I find this a disturbing story. I’ve visited Easdale Island no more than half a dozen times. When I used the ferry I was surprised that, in an apparently idyllic job (from my point of view) the skipper seemed morose and unhappy. When I arrived in my own little boat and called in the ferry house to check where I could make fast to be clear of the ferry, he was most helpful and pleasant.
Now I know why he seemed so moody, poor chap. He’s right, life is too short to be treated like that. I hope he can find peace. Frankly, I’d be tempted to let the beggars swim.
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I have always been amazed at the amount of patience the ferrymen seem to have with some of the antics of residents and visitors. It is a rare experience to find them glum – things must have been bad. Glad you also experienced how friendly and helpful they are.
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We have experienced an excellent ferry service since Willie took over the ferry.
Uncouth language and abusive threatening behaviour would appear to be par for Mr Mackenzie and the directors of Eilean Eisdeal. Groundless complaints are quite a tame tactic for these people.
Willie has nothing to answer for apart from an excellent service.
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I have personally experienced Mackenzie’s attempts at communication, which were reported to the police, some time ago. I really do hope this incident is taken extremely seriously and dealt with appropriately. Such bullying/harassment must be stopped.
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If the ferryman has been subjected to abuse then the council should act; there is a guide for actions that must be taken if school staff are threatened or subjected to abuse, I imagine that this guidance is broadly applicable to all A&B Council staff.
Section 3
Procedures to be followed after an act of violence
3.1 Referral of violent persons to the police
All education employees will receive a positive and supportive response where an
assault has taken place against them. This support may include the incident being
reported to the police on their behalf.
All members of staff have rights as ordinary citizens to make their own complaint to
the police following assault, irrespective of other departmental procedures.
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Also relevant is the MSP’s Code of Conduct which has a fairly extensive section which predominantly focuses on setting out what is unacceptable behaviour by a constituent however it also states that ‘Members and their staff should treat all individuals with courtesy and respect and expect to receive similar consideration in return.’
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Politics aside:
Just as a pub landlord has the right to refuse to serve.
So should the service refuse to serve until a formal apology is issued by the gentleman (using the term lightly)who made the remarks.
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Ban the guy I say. Let him buy a rowing boat of his own and he will soon appreciate the ferryman’s efforts. ( I am not implying that this is a rowed ferry.)
I do not think the Council has come out of this well yet again.
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I don’t see why the Council have come out badly. They have taken the appropriate action by investigating the matter, have reached a conclusion based on that investigation, have seemingly supported their member of staff and, if Newsroom is correct, are dealing with the issue using the appropriate mechanisms available to them.
I don’t agre with the suggestion that he should be banned from using the ferry. It is a public service and whilst behaviour along the lines of that suggested is not acceptable and not something that anyone should accept in their workspace, removal of a public service seems to be an excessive punishment UNLESS there is a pattern of similar behaviour.
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Integrity – Aye but apply the same rules to Andrew Mitchell and he could spend the rest of his life locked out from no.10 – or would it be an eternity locked in there – either way there is a certain natural justice in the solution!
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I suspect the SNP won’t come out well either. What have they done about it? Ignored it?
Why haven’t the media (apart from FA) picked up on this as happened in the Westminster ‘Plebgage’ incident? Could it be that, as the ferryman is not a policeman, he doesn’t deserve the same respect? Is it ok for an MSP to swear at people?
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University educated remember?
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For macKenzie, read Houdini!
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Willie is a great guy. He always goes more than the extra mile. He has contributed a great deal to Easdale. No one has the right to curse public servants going about their proper duties. Tolerance is called for at times. If what I have heard is accurate then the guilty party concerned is a cause for concern; well out of order and a terrible example.
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