union

"Trade unions share the government's ambitions to improve the nation's health and to help more people into good quality work," he said.

On Tuesday, the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs — the union representing rank-and-file deputies — said Gardner’s handling of the case “deserves praise” and criticized the department’s decision to fire him.

“We are appalled by the reports of officers speaking in this manner about potential recruits, co-workers and supervisors,” the union statement said.

He is facing opposition from unions, who over the weekend accused the government of "the retreading of failed ideas and narratives" and risked "treating the Civil Service as a political punchbag".

"The governance of rugby union in this country is on shaky ground - it is clear there are serious structural issues at play," she added.