New witch hunts

Submitted by Anon on 28 June, 2007 - 1:00

Dave Prentis clearly signalled in his conference speech that organised left activists were in his sights.

The Unison local government conference saw an attack on Socialist Party comrades from four branches who had tried to raise the issue of why Standing Orders Committee had ruled out of order so many motions. The leaflet they produced had used the “three wise monkeys” as a symbol of how their questioning of the decisions had been ignored. This was laughably deemed to be racist and an investigation is underway.

Three leading SWP activists are also under fire from their employers, the union or both.

Karen Reissmann — well known and well respected Unison activist and Chairperson of Manchester Community and Mental Health branch — was suspended by her employer on 15 June. Her employer, Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, has accused her of activities (that is, good trade union activities) which bring the Trust into disrepute, that they no longer have confidence in her as an employee, and that they suspect her of misusing her time during her employment.

The Trust have tried to discipline Karen previously. She has effectively organised and supported members for many years. 260 members took two days of strike action earlier in the year, against cuts in services and jobs and against the worsening of conditions and services which would arise from privatisation of some of the community mental health teams. Karen has particularly been critical of the transfer of NHS services to the voluntary sector and social enterprises, and this appears to be one of the factors in her suspension.

Please send emails condemning the suspension to the Chief Executive of MMH&SCT to: sheila.foley@mhsc.nhs.uk and messages of support to Karen, at karen@reissmann.fsnet.co.uk, with copies to the Joint Branch Secretaries: Caroline Bedale, c.bedale@btinternet.com and Derrick Goold, unison@zen.co.uk

Tony Staunton, Plymouth branch secretary and leading Unison union activist in the south west of England, was barred from standing for election to the union’s national executive committee and is currently suspended from his elected positions.

This action prevented a contest between Tony and Steve Warwick, national chair of Unison’s Labour Link. Tony is a popular activist with a good track record of campaigning trade unionism.

Send messages of support to tony.staunton@blueyonder.co.uk

And finally the suspension and investigation of Yunus Baksh from Newcastle by employer and union continues. For updates contact Defend Yunus Bakhsh, 46c Lawe Road, South Shields or yunusbakhsh@yahoo.co.uk

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