Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/532/4073
From The Socialist newspaper, 7 May 2008
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
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 7 May 2008:
Coventry: Socialist election success shows the way forward
Meltdown for Brown - but he won't change course
Elections round-up and results
Election victories for class fighters
Socialist Party news and analysis
Grangemouth refinery: Oil strike wins concessions
TUC attacks Labour on working poverty
Bangor Socialist Students fight tuition fees
Album review: The Bright Lights of America
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
France 1968: Capitalism brought to its knees
How workers and youth are building a Left alternative in France
Sri Lanka: 25 years of war and conflict
May Day Greetings
May Day Greetings 2008 in The Socialist (p4)
May Day Greetings 2008, The Socialist (p6)
May Day Greetings 2008, The Socialist (p7)
May Day Greetings 2008, The Socialist (p9)
May Day Greetings 2008, The Socialist (p10)
May Day Greetings 2008, The Socialist (p11)
May Day Greetings 2008, The Socialist (p15)
Socialist Party workplace news
Unison witch-hunt: Defend the four, come to the lobby!
Mark Thomas condemns witch-hunt
'Raising the roof' at Usdaw conference
National Shop Stewards Network second conference
Come to the 2008 Campaign for a New Workers' Party conference
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