Islington UNISON Two Sefton UNISON Branch officers, Nigel Flanagan and Paul Summers were suspended by employers on May 17 over allegations of intimidation and aggressive behaviour at a demonstration against housing stock transfers.
But police statements obtained by their Solicitors state that the demonstration was "peaceful' and 'passed without incident. In addition CCTV footage has been viewed by the UNISON Regional Secretary Frank Hont and other officials of UNISON and shows no evidence of misconduct.
UNISON sees this as a clear political attack on UNISON who have also been evicted from their office which was on Council premises.
Sefton Council has now declared itself financially crippled by the loss of the Stock Transfer ballot. Tenants voted by 55 per cent against stock transfer on a 62.8 per cent turnout, after the Council spent £5.2 million on leaflets, brochures, videos and consultants. The 'no' campaign organised by tenants and UNISON cost £21,000.
Over 20,000 branch members have already taken 3 days strike action in solidarity. The branch is now moving to all out action by key groups o workers from October 5
Nigel Flanagan told Socialist Resistance: "Things are going well but it feels like we are getting near the real crunch point after being suspended for 20 weeks! Every Wednesday from October 5 we will bring out another group to join in.
"Our hearings are scheduled for 17,18 and 19 October and the Council have engaged a Barrister to run its case against us! So despite the Police statements and the CCTV footage they are still going ahead".
"The branch needs about £10,000 a week to run the dispute."
You can make donations to the Branch Hardship Fund or contact the branch in its new offices at Sefton UNISON, Mersey Seaman's Mission, Colonsay House, 20 Crosby Road South, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RQ 0151 928 9911 [email protected]