Rail union baron Manuel Cortes barred by chiefs over sexual harassment claims

RAIL wrecker Manuel Cortes, who has vowed to inflict a summer of travel chaos, has been barred by union chiefs over sexual harassment claims.

Cortes, 55, will not be allowed to attend any events for the Trades Union Congress while an investigation into his conduct is carried out.

He may miss its annual rally in Brighton in September and will not be allowed at meetings.

The Transport and Salaried Staffs’ Association boss was accused by former TSSA employee Claire Laycock of putting his arm around her and asking for a kiss in 2019.

Cortes said he could not remember because he had been drinking.

A spokesperson for the TUC said: “In May, the TUC set out our expectations of TSSA under our rules, including that they set up an independent inquiry into sexual harassment in the union.

“TSSA is responsible for commissioning this inquiry, not the TUC.

“At its meeting on 21 June, the TUC General Council agreed that the TSSA officers reported as responsible for sexual harassment should not attend any TUC meetings or events, including the General Council, until the independent inquiry and any subsequent processes have concluded.

“The General Council agreed that TSSA should be invited to send an observer to General Council meetings during this period.”