'Bully' claim TUC official quits

Felicity Williams is a former president of the MSF union in Wales

The top trade union official in Wales who has been subject of an investigation into claims of bullying has resigned.

Felicity Williams had been away from her post as general secretary of the Wales Trades Union Congress (TUC) for nine months on "gardening leave".

Mrs Williams, who had been general secretary since 2004, was unavailable for comment.

Tom Wilson, head of personnel at the TUC said they wished her well.

He said Mrs Williams resignation was effective from 30 April but he would make no further comment.

The Western Mail had reported in the summer that Mrs Williams, 47, was on "gardening leave" after allegations of bullying were made against her by staff at Transport House in Cardiff.

It is not known whether Mrs Williams received any cash settlement when she resigned.

Wales TUC's annual conference is due to go ahead in Llandudno next week.

'Real honour'

Mrs Williams said at the time she got the job: "It is a real honour and a big responsibility to take up this post".

The TUC said then about 40% of the working population in Wales belonged to a union, the highest proportion in the UK.

When she was appointed, the TUC general secretary Brendan Barber hailed it as a "real dent in the glass ceiling for women in the trade union movement in Wales."

Mrs Williams was educated at Aberdare Girls' Grammar School before qualifying as a biomedical scientist.

She received a fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Scientists at Bristol University in 1988 and was deputy head of microbiology for the Welsh blood service for 10 years.

She was president of the MSF union in Wales and became assistant general secretary to the Wales TUC in April 2000.

Mrs Williams was unavailable for comment.

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