Unison witch-hunt: Defend the four, come to the lobby!

The four Unison members under attack from their own union leadership had their disciplinary hearings postponed to 14-16 May. Please support the lobby of the hearings (see below).

In June last year the Unison bureaucracy launched a disciplinary investigation into five union officers. This was for daring to print and publish a leaflet attacking the union leadership's blocking of the union conference's right to debate issues such as the funding of the Labour Party, the election of fulltime officials and control over strike action.

Despite the leaflet making no derogatory remarks about any individual member of the standing orders committee, the former president announced an investigation and then allowed and supported an unsubstantiated and unjustified attack of alleged racism without giving the branches the right to respond.

The leaflet used the well known Buddhist proverb and cartoon of 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'.

Four of the five under investigation - all Socialist Party members - are now facing the 14-16 May disciplinary hearings. These are - Glenn Kelly, NEC member and Bromley branch secretary, Onay Kasab, Greenwich branch secretary,

Suzanne Muna, Housing Corporation branch secretary and Brian Debus, Hackney branch chair.

All four have a proud record of standing up for their members and leading struggles against their employers and are fully supported by their branches.

The union leadership should be putting their effort into leading a struggle for a decent wage rise and not witch-hunting hard working and respected branch officers.

This is not just an attack on these four. Other activists and branches who stand up to the leadership and challenge decisions have also been disciplined.

All supporters are urged to attend a lobby on 14 May from 8.30 am at the London Hilton Metropole Hotel, 225 Edgware Road, London W2 1JU. Please bring placards and banners.

You can also support the four and defend union democracy by:

Making a personal donation, cheques payable to 'Stop the witch-hunt'. Please send to: 'Defend the Four Campaign' PO Box 858 London E11 1YG.

Signing the petition or letter to show your opposition. The appeal for funds, petition, and letter are all on the website:

www.stopthewitchhunt.org.uk