A manager sacked from the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield before Christmas is considering a legal challenge against his removal.
Neil Williams, a former miner employed as a health and safety manager at the national attraction, was phoned by a museum official the week before Christmas and informed he was being ‘let go.
Mr Williams was told during the call his removal was due to a lack of flexibility.
But the written confirmation he received stated he was being made ‘redundant’. However, the health and safety role is a statutory role, and should be exempt from redundancy.
UNISON says Mr Williams had raised health and safety concerns at the museum in the weeks before his dismissal and considers himself to be a whistleblower. This, along with the differing explanations for his dismissal, raises questions behind the legality of his sacking.
Mr Williams was told by the museum’s chief executive Lynn Dunning she instructed the temporary mine manager to sack him.
The union is now working with Mr Williams to explore his options, including the possibility of challenging his removal on the grounds of unfair dismissal.
UNISON supported another worker sacked by the museum in an unfair dismissal case less than a year ago, which was settled for a sum of compensation of £18,700.
The treatment of Mr Williams by the museum and its chief executive Lynn Dunning is the latest in a long line of poor decisions made by senior figures at the museum
They include spending thousands of pounds on abusive private security guards, at a far greater cost than simply settling the dispute.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: “Neil Williams was a popular and respected member of the workforce at the National Coal Mining Museum. His treatment has been shocking.
“Not only was he informed of his dismissal just days before Christmas, the museum has given differing explanations for why it happened.
“UNISON has already supported one worker to win compensation in their unfair dismissal claim against the museum and its chief executive. The union is here to help Neil if he chooses to challenge his dismissal.”
Notes:
– Neil Williams was informed via telephone that he was being “let go” by the museum as they needed someone more reliable, but subsequently received written confirmation that talked of redundancy. He believes the real reason for his dismissal is for raising serious health and safety issues within the museum, and considers himself to be a whistleblower.
– In July 2025, UNISON supported a former employee of the National Coal Mining Museum in a claim for unfair and wrongful dismissal, which was settled before the hearing began. UNISON believes the cost to the National Coal Mining Museum will be significantly greater due to legal costs.
– More than 40 workers have been on strike at the National Coal Mining Museum since August 2025 in a pay dispute. The industrial action is scheduled to run until the end of June 2026 unless an acceptable offer is put forward.
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