Ponytailgate: Union to represent waitress in possible legal action

Amanda Bailey, in the foreground, and cafe owners Jackie Grant and Scott Brown. Photo / Dean Purcell

The waitress who had her ponytail pulled repeatedly by Prime Minister John Key is considering legal action.

Unite Union said this afternoon that it had agreed to represent Amanda Bailey.

The 26 year-old waitress approached the union after she was named as the author of an anonymous post on the Daily Blog last week, in which she detailed harassment by Mr Key.

"Unite will be advising Amanda on employment issues and assisting to resolve concerns about how her identity was revealed by the New Zealand Herald," the union said in a statement.

Asked whether the discussions could lead to a formal complaint or legal action, Unite Union member Shanna Reeder said: "Potentially. There are a lot of options that people have put out there. So what we're trying to do is help her decide what is the best course of action."

The union did not say who any complaint or legal action would target.

"At this stage it's so early. Really she hasn't made a decision at all yet and we're just trying to help her through this initial stage of figuring out she wants to do, if anything.

"I'm guessing over the next week or so she'll probably make a decision. We're giving her all of her options and then she'll be able to decide."

In a post on the left-wing website The Daily Blog last week, Ms Bailey revealed that Mr Key had pulled her hair on a number of occasions over several months while she was working at Rosie cafe in Parnell.

Ms Bailey said his harassment continued despite her telling him to stop, and despite his wife Bronagh telling him off for his behaviour.

Mr Key later gave her two bottles of wine as an apology.

His actions were criticised by Human Rights Commissioner Jackie Blue, and serial litigant Graham McCready today presented paperwork for filing on a proposed assault case against the Prime Minister.