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Workers at Parliament are galled by new policy

LONDON - The clerks, aides and secretaries who work in Parliament consider it the unkindest cut of all.

British lawmakers have been granted the power to move to the head of the line at restaurants, restrooms and elevators inside the Houses of Parliament, enraging those assistants, researchers, janitors and other workers who must stand and wait.

The workers warn that Parliament is in danger of appearing decidedly undemocratic in allowing the lawmakers to "jump the queue."

"People are outraged," said Kevin Flack, an aide and labor union representative. "They are shocked by the attitude behind it as much as anything."

The dispute strikes at the heart of a peculiarly British obsession: the sanctity of waiting patiently in line for buses, trains, coffee stands, deli counters - anywhere there is a crowd.

Flack, one of some 10,000 workers at Parliament, said the staff feels it is being ranked as second-class citizens by elected members, and anger boiled over at a meeting Tuesday, with the staff accusing legislators of boldly brushing them aside at elevator lobbies as workers waited to be issued new security passes. The House of Commons administration committee, which approved the policy, acknowledged members needed to negotiate on the changes, but didn't offer to scrap the directive.

Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords already have a number of plush dining rooms and bars to which the staff and the public are denied access. That doesn't include other privileges, like reserved spaces for their ceremonial swords and legal exemption that prevents them from being sued over anything said in chambers.

Lawmakers also retain the ancient right to collect a pinch of snuff from doorkeepers.

As inequitable as the British staff might find the change, there are few places, if any, where an American lawmaker might stand in line on Capitol Hill. U.S. representatives have their own elevators, dining rooms and doors - and restrooms in their offices.

The parliamentary edict was approved by Peter Grant Peterkin, Parliament's flamboyantly dressed sergeant-at-arms, an administrator whose ceremonial uniform includes buckled boots, tights and a sword.

His office declined requests to photograph signs hung in cafes and restaurants reminding the staff to give lawmakers priority.

[Last modified October 17, 2007, 00:49:00]