MANCHESTER (fighting the victimisation of Karen Reissman): The struggle
to win the reinstatement of UNISON branch chair Karen Reissman has reached a
critical stage. After a six-day disciplinary hearing her employer, the
Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust, will finally announce
whether she will be sacked on Monday 05 November around 12.30 PM. UNISON
members in the branch, who have already staged 14 days of strike action in
Karen’s defence since early September, are bracing for the worst. Some 160
members (a quarter of the branch), who work in the community mental health
teams, have now received the green light to strike indefinitely with official
backing from Thursday 08 November in the event of Karen’s dismissal by the
Trust.
PLEASE rush messages of support from your branch, region or
yourselves as individuals to unison@zen.co.uk
Donations will be
desperately needed to relieve hardship should an indefinite strike go ahead.
Make cheques payable to ‘Manchester Community and Mental Health UNISON’, c/o
the union office, Chorlton House, 70 Manchester Road, Manchester M21 9UN.
Telephone 07972 120451 to invite a speaker to your branch meeting,
etc.
Messages of protest to the Trust’s Chief Executive, Sheila Foley,
email: sheila.foley@mhsc.nhs.uk
BARNET, NORTH LONDON (battle against
vicious privateers, Fremantle): Residential careworkers in Barnet have been
resisting severe attacks on their already low pay, and terms and conditions by
private contractor, Fremantle. To date they have struck for three days and
further action is now in the pipeline. On Saturday 10 November Fremantle
workers and their supporters will be marching and rallying in North London as
part of the campaign to reverse the attacks and bring residential care
services back in house. If possible, please join the march, which assembles
from 12 noon at Watling Park, near Burnt Oak tube station on the Northern
Line.
Please send messages of support, etc to Barnet UNISON – by email:
barnetUNISON@barnetUNISON.org.uk or by ‘phone on 020 8359 2088. Donations to
Barnet UNISON, c/o the branch office, Building 4, NLBP, Oakleigh Road South,
London N11 1NP.
NEWHAM, EAST LONDON (stop the victimisation of Michael
Gavan): UNISON members across the East London borough of Newham held an
effective one-day strike on Wednesday 31 October in support of their branch
chair, Michael Gavan, who is facing possible dismissal at the behest of the
borough’s New Labour mayor, Sir Robin Wales, for his principled stand in
opposing the privatisation of Newham’s refuse collection and street cleansing
services. Michael faced the first day of his disciplinary hearing on Thursday
and the inquisition will resume during the course of the coming week. Though a
date is still to be named, further action is likely later this month unless
Newham Council climbs down and reinstates Michael Gavan without any
preconditions.
Please send messages of support to:
newham-unison@btconnect.com or telephone 020 8555 9351.
GLASGOW
(all-out strike by day centre workers): Several hundred workers in day centres
for people with learning disabilities have entered the third week of an
indefinite strike in response to wage cuts and attempts to deskill a dedicated
workforce. Some staff face the prospect of losing up to £3,000 a year in
pay. Please send messages of support, donations, etc to: Glasgow UNISON,
Fourth Floor, 18 Albion Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 4PF.
