Are things going from bad to worse for the RSPB? Following on from the revelation that the charity are proposing significant cuts, affecting 380 job roles and potentially resulting in the mothballing or sale of 32 RSPB reserves, this week come stories of a “mass walkout” of volunteers over the charity’s treatment of an employee.
You might recall a story from March of this year, in which an RSPB warden was accused of 'torturing' a sick Skua on Coquet Island off the Northumberland coast, by standing on it for four minutes, before wringing its neck and smashing its head against a rock.
Now the same employee is involved in a staff imbroglio concerning a colleague, Dr Paul Morrison, who was sacked from his job with the RSPB after working with them for 40 years, over claims that Paul had treated Dr Ibrahim Alfarwi – he of the Skua story – like a modern-day slave.
Speaking to GB News Lord Ridley, a frequent visitor to Coquet Island – which he described as “a fabulous bird reserve” – said that “since Paul has no longer been on the island, it has been clear to me that it’s not being as well managed as it was. So I think this is a disgraceful episode of treating someone badly, and putting at risk a wildlife conservation success story.”
Dr Morrison’s dismissal prompted a furious backlash from colleagues. After a lengthy legal battle with the charity he was reportedly paid a sum of damages; something we suspect won’t help their financial worries. If only the RSPB had treated their employees better, their bank account might be looking more flush!
Dr Morrison has claimed he faced a barrage of allegations of 'unacceptable behaviours' and 'when one allegation was disproved, along came the next one'. He was accused of ‘behaviours which look to be controlling, coercive and manipulative', but despite his own claims to the contrary and plenty evidence to back up his own claims, the RSPB replaced him in March of last year – leading to a mass walkout from other volunteers disgusted at Paul's treatment.
Another RSPB volunteer has claimed that the RSPB wanted to replace a “privileged old English white man” because it fitted with “their diversity agenda”.
The RSPB’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr James Robinson, wrote in a blog this week that: “We have thorough, fair and legal processes and procedures that we follow when dealing with staff issues. We take pride in being an organisation which is committed to ensuring all employees and volunteers are treated fairly and reasonably.”
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