Sacked mining museum worker submits unfair dismissal claim

A former health and safety manager at the National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield who was sacked last December has lodged a legal claim for unfair dismissal.

Neil Williams was told a week before Christmas that he was being “let go” for lacking flexibility, the union says, yet his written termination letter claimed redundancy. This is despite the health and safety role being statutory.

As a result, Mr Williams is bringing an unfair dismissal claim against the museum.

It outlines a number of health and safety concerns raised by Mr Williams in the weeks before his departure.

These included the safety of equipment in the mine, first aid and food hygiene training required by café staff, and outstanding repair work required on the children’s playground.

Mr Williams was put under pressure to declare the playground safe, despite not being qualified to do so. A few weeks later, an accident occurred which could have been avoided if the faulty equipment had been repaired.

Senior managers at the museum continued to make extra demands of Mr Williams, despite him suffering chest pains, which led to him being signed off work due to high blood pressure.

Following his dismissal, Mr Williams submitted a subject access request. The documents revealed he was removed from his post less than 24 hours after the museum’s chief executive received photographs of him attending a rally in support of striking workers.

UNISON supported another employee sacked by the museum in an unfair and wrongful dismissal case which went before the Leeds Employment Tribunal in summer 2025, and was settled for a sum of compensation of £18,700. 

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: “Neil’s role above all else was to keep people safe at the National Coal Mining Museum.

“He raised numerous safety concerns which needed addressing – from machinery in the mine, to food hygiene standards in the café.

“But it feels as though museum managers have viewed his insistence on following good health and safety practice as obstructive and unhelpful.

“UNISON will continue to support Neil as he challenges his dismissal.”

Notes to editors:   
– 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.
– Mr Williams’ dismissal came in the middle of a strike by more than 40 workers at the National Coal Mining Museum over a pay dispute. It began in August 2025, and was resolved in April 2026.