Council staff face suspension over racist message

MORE than a dozen city council staff have been suspended after a racist message was circulated around council e-mail accounts.

The staff involved are understood to work at the finance department at Chesser House, and while the exact content of the message is unknown, council sources have confirmed it was of a racist nature.

Those who have been suspended are thought to have either replied to the original e-mail or forwarded it on, and a decision is expected within days on whether they will be allowed to return to work.

It comes 18 months after 22 council staff in the same office were suspended over a similar e-mail.

Cllr Phil Wheeler, the city's finance and resources leader, said: "The council has a code of conduct in place for our e-mail system and it is reasonable to ask staff to adhere to the strict guidelines."

John Stevenson, Unison's branch president on the city council, said: "There is no place in this day and age for anything that can be construed as racist. We represent a wide range of members of all colour and creed and all of them require to be treated with respect."