UNISON activist sacked for speaking out!

On Saturday 24^th
November over 2,000 trade unionists marched through Manchester demanding the
reinstatement of UNISON health service activist Karen Reissmann. With no big speakers, and despite the
rain, this was very much a rank-and-file organised demonstration which drew
support from the whole trade union movement.
Banners were present from UNISON branches across the country, but also
from UNITE branches, civil service branches, teachers, lecturers, journalists,
railway workers, fire-fighters, postal workers and specialist hospital workers,
like Midwives.

Every activist on the
demonstration identified with Karen Reissmann, who has been sacked for
performing her union role effectively.
As Chair of Manchester Community Mental Health UNISON Branch, and a
psychiatric nurse for 25 years, she had spoken out publicly against cuts being
implemented by her employer. Cuts that
involved bed losses, reduced staffing levels in community teams, and
transferring services to the voluntary sector. All of which were having a major impact on mental health
patients in the area. The result was
her suspension and dismissal for bringing her Health Trust into disrepute.

Every trade union activist
knows that if this employer is allowed to attack the right of trade unions, and
trade union representatives, to publicly criticise their employer, then all
their jobs are under threat. Already
we have seen a similar sacking of Michael Gavan Chair of Newham Council UNISON
Branch, because of his trade union activities.

Karen’s UNISON branch,
supported by many of their patients, have mounted a solid defence of their
Branch Chairperson. After an 87% "yes"
vote for strike action, several branch-wide strikes have been held before her
disciplinary hearing. Since 8^th
November, and following Karen’s dismissal, 150 branch members have been on
indefinite strike action. Yet the Trust
that protested its financial shortages has now found money to relocate patients
to other areas and to pay for private care for patients affected by the strike.

The demonstration was noisy
and high-spirited. Many local trade
union activists spoke, and even patients who had been helped by Karen.

Regional lay officers from
UNISON spoke at the rally after the march, pledging their full support to
Karen. However, the lack of national
speakers from the union, and the limited publicity given to both the dispute
and the demonstration, perhaps high-light UNISON’s ambivalence towards
Karen. As a member of the SWP she is far
from their favourite trade union officer.
It is vital that UNISON nationally, and the movement as a whole throw
their full weight behind winning this dispute.
The principle of the right of trade union representatives to speak out
on behalf of their members must be defended.