A former health and safety manager at the National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield was dismissed just hours after the chief executive received photographs of him attending a rally in support of striking workers.
Neil Williams was dismissed a week before Christmas, and given differing reasons for the decision.
There were already concerns about the legitimacy of his removal, but new evidence about the timing raises serious questions.
Since he was forced out of his position, Mr Williams submitted a “subject access request” to the museum. This allows employees and others to find more about the digital records held about them.
Data provided in response to his enquiry included a redacted email from a member of staff at the museum, containing four photographs of Mr Williams in Wakefield city centre, when a UNISON demonstration was taking place in support of striking workers* at the museum (below).
The email was sent at 2.18pm on Wednesday 17 December 2025. Mr Williams was informed he was being dismissed first thing the following morning.
The timing of the dismissal, less than 24 hours after the photos were received, raises serious questions over the reason, legitimacy and legality of terminating Mr Williams’ employment.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: “Being told you’re losing your job a week before Christmas is bad enough, and being given differing reasons is even worse.
“But to find out someone has taken covert photographs of you attending a lawful public event which were handed to the museum shortly before you were sacked is shocking, and downright shameful.
“It’s perfectly acceptable for a worker to attend a union event in their own time.
“If the decision to sack Neil has come as a result of the images, it raises huge concerns over the ethics and legality of decision-making by the most senior figures at the museum.”
Some of the photographs taken of Neil.
The email sent on Wednesday 17 December 2025, containing the photographs.
Notes:
– Neil Williams was sacked before Christmas and considers himself a whistleblower. More information can be found here.
– A subject access request (SAR) allows individuals to request a copy of their personal data held by an organisation, under data protection laws.
– *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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