Saltire branded racist by National library

by mudricky | June 24, 2009 at 10:52 pm

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Bosses at Scotland's national library (NLS) have found themselves in the middle of a row where they've branded their own national flag as 'racist' and 'offensive'.

Staff have been told to remove any St. Andrew's cross flags, yellow distinctive lion rampant flags and also, believe it or not tartan from all desks in an official email sent to all staff.

The email said that these measures were put in place so not to cause offence to non-Scottish workers - who were there in Scotland working.

NLS customer services chief Alexandra Miller has since sent a few emails that started back in March.

But one unnamed staff member spoke out and told a newspaper after he was giving into trouble by his employers for decorating his desk with three Scottish flags, two saltires and a lion rampant, he also covered his chair in a red tartan.

MS Miller said in one of her emails: “I believe it could even impinge on respect at work issues where such nationalistic displays may intimidate non-Scottish colleagues.”

“I am very disappointed to see [unnamed staff member] continue to have inappropriate material bedecking their workstation.

“This includes several Saltires and a Lion Rampant, and the personalisation of a chair with red tartan."

In another e-mail she said: "Workstations are the property of the library, not of individual members of staff, and it needs to be clearly understood that things of this nature are simply not allowed, for the reasons already given.

This applies to any inappropriate material including calendars and any items that could be deemed to be racist, sexist etc."

Also another email states that she personally went around the building removing some of these flags herself.

Martyn Wade, who is Scotland's national librarian and chief executive of NLS, said it did not and would not, "ban" staff from displaying the Saltire in the workplace.

He added: "We merely asked a single individual to remove what we considered to be an excessive display of large flags from a desk in a shared, professional work area, and we would have done so regardless of what the flag was or indeed any other adornment.

"The National Library of Scotland is immensely proud of our place at the heart of Scotland's culture and knowledge, and indeed we proudly fly the Saltire from our main building."

THE National Library of Scotland banned workers from displaying Saltires in the office - claiming they could be racist.

Bosses said the flags could "intimidate non-Scottish colleagues" - and also banned the Lion Rampant and tartan seat covers.

The move - believed to have been prompted by one worker bedecking his desk in flags -sparked fury last night.

SNP Msp Christine Grahame accused library chiefs of an "unforgivable slur on the reputation of Scotland's national flag".

She demanded an apology after securing evidence of the policy through the Freedom of Information Act.

In emails , director of customer services Alexandra Miller told NLS staff that the display of the Saltire and tartan would not be tolerated.

Miller even went round offices herself removing Saltires and other material she deemed "offensive".

She wrote: "I believe it could even impinge on respect at work issues where such nationalistic displays may intimidate non-Scottish colleagues.

"I am very disappointed to see (staff ) continue to have inappropriate material bedecking their workstation. This includes several Saltires and a Lion Rampant and the personalisation of a chair with red tartan."

Miller then implied displaying of the Saltire may be deemed "racist" by other staff and visitors.

When it was pointed out to Miller that one member of staff, ex-soldier John Gibson, was very attached to his flags, she replied: "As for John's 'attachment' to the items, he is perfectly free to adorn his home with them.