socialist Victimised UNISON health activist Karen Reissmann has been sacked after a protracted six day disciplinary hearing, on a trumped up charge of bringing the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust into disrepute.
Karen, who is chair of UNISON's Manchester Community & Mental Health Branch, was suspended 4 months ago, and her colleagues believe she is being victimised for her trade union activity.
700 UNISON members in mental heath have already taken 11 days strike action in her defence.
UNISON had already decided that if the decision went this way 160 members working in community mental health teams and crisis resolution services would begin all-out strike action from Thursday November 8, demanding her reinstatement.
Karen, a community psychiatric nurse, based at North Manchester General Hospital, was suspended in June after she was quoted in a Manchester-based magazine called Enterprising, www.socialistresistance.net
9UN. the Branch on 07972 120451 criticising the government policy of transferring some health services to the voluntary sector.
The Trust's decision to press ahead with the sacking amounts to a frontal challenge to trade union organization and the right of trade unionists to speak out against the government's policies of privatization and fragmenting the
Every trade unionist, and especially every UNISON member should lend their support to this fight for principle, and demand Karen's immediate and unconditional reinstatement. Send resolutions of support to the branch and to UNISON NEC and UNISON NW Region.
The branch will need funds to support the ongoing strike action: rush donations payable to Manchester Community and Mental Health UNISON to the union office, Manchester Community and Mental Health UNISON, Chorlton Hoise, 70 Manchester Road, Manchester M21
Invite a speaker to your next meeting: contact No. 49 November 2007 TO