Peace move at Royal Opera House

ACAS has been asked to help resolve the row over a victimised ROH union rep.

Management at the Covent Garden Opera House agreed today to allow the Government conciliation service ACAS to step into a dispute prompted by the suspension of the BECTU branch secretary.

Union members had earlier voted unanimously to run an industrial action ballot if management turned down BECTU's suggestion that ACAS should be called in.

The row started when branch secretary Pat Styles was suspended from duty, after being presented with an 80-page dossier compiled by management, which criticised his conduct as a union representative.

BECTU immediately accused bosses at the ROH of picking on Styles because of his union activities, and demanded that he should be reinstated.

Assistant General Secretary Gerry Morrissey said: "Friends of the Opera House will be glad that the company has agreed to arbitration. And BECTU members at Covent Garden are relieved that their speedy and resolute action has quickly compelled this more reasoned response by the employers. The ROH board must understand that attempts to weaken our workplace organisation and victimise our elected workplace representatives will not succeed.

Union negotiators are now due to meet ROH managers at ACAS on February 26. In the meantime, no disciplinary action will be taken against Styles, and the industrial action ballot will be put on hold.