Janine Booth reports
John Page continues to fight for reinstatement following his sacking by Hackney Council for drafting a report exposing racism in the Council.
His appeal against dismissal is on 14 November, and Hackney TUC is planning a major public meeting exposing the Borough's racism two days beforehand.
You can read some background to the case here.
Hackney Council has dropped all charges against Brian Debus and Will Leng, the other two UNISON branch officers who were disciplined alongside John. It seems clear that all along, the Council's aim has been to rid itself of John, an effective and determined anti-racist union representative.
The Commission for Racial Equality is currently checking out Hackney Council's progress in eliminating racism, after it issued the Council with a 'non-discrimination notice' two years ago. One issue that the CRE might uncover is that over the last decade, the Council has failed to discipline a single manager found by Employment Tribunal to have discriminated against workers.
Under Britain's draconian employment legislation, it is legal for an employer to do this: to allow managers who discriminate to get away with it scot-free. John Page's case shows that workers and union activists who complain, though, face victimisation.
Even if John wins at Tribunal, the court can not force the Council to reinstate him. Only a big campaign by the workforce and the wider community can do that. Hackney TUC is working to encourage and co-ordinate that campaign.
Contact Jane Holgate 07960-798399 j.holgate@unisonfree.net