The Socialist 24 February 2010

NHS: not safe in their hands!

NHS: Not safe in their hands!

Private 'vultures' to run NHS hospital

How to stop cuts and defend public services

Demo opposes £29m Notts county cuts

Young people deserve a future: Join the Manchester march for jobs on 13 March

Youth Fight for Jobs Demonstrations

RMT branch supports challenge to Denham

Support the TUSC election challenge

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition General Election launch rally

British Airways cabin crew v management: Round two

Anger on Teesside over Corus closure

ID cards - an expensive threat to civil liberties

Tories attack community café...

Yarl's Wood hunger strike

Fast news

The Eton co-op won't work

Nominate Roger Bannister: Unison's leadership battle

Unison witch-hunt continues

South Wales: Demo against council cuts

Staythorpe: the fight for workplace safety

Port workers battle bosses... and high court

Jobcentre staff fight cuts

Leeds university: Support lecturers striking to save jobs

Fighting leadership needed for UCU

CWU women vote for political review

CWI Latin America school: A continent on the brink

Iraq: All eyes on the oil prize

Campaigning rights victory: But questions remain on new Waltham Forest policy

How can the racist BNP be defeated?

Scottish Defence League defeated: Working class political alternative urgently needed

Previous issues, etc

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Unison witch-hunt continues

Unison has continued its witch-hunt by banning Alan Docherty, the Darlington local government branch secretary, from holding office for three years. His 'crime' was defending himself from attacks by Unison northern region's leadership for his involvement in the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN). He is the Tees Valley secretary of the NSSN.

Alan is co-ordinating the campaign to resist swingeing cuts from his employer, Darlington borough council. Alan asked that his disciplinary hearing be postponed until after the current anti-cuts campaign, but his request was ignored.

Despite this, the branch has waged an active anti-cuts campaign. This has had some successes so far.

On 16 February over 100 members turned out to a lively demonstration to lobby the Labour cabinet to drop their plans to cut pay. This rally was addressed by Unison national executive (NEC) member Hannah Walter, and trades council secretary, Pat Buttle. Both Hannah and Pat criticised the Unison leadership for its attack on Alan and praised him as a committed activist.

The complaint leading to the ban arises from a year ago when Alan stood for the NEC as a 'Reclaim Our Union' candidate. His opponent made the complaint against Alan, after Alan had rung to ask why he was proposing a motion through Durham County branch seeking punitive action against officers and members of the Shop Stewards Network who he claimed were bringing Unison into disrepute. Alan circulated the motion to those implicated.

This motion was backed unanimously as a statement by Unison's northern regional committee. No further discussion on this statement was allowed within the union on the basis it contravened confidentiality under disciplinary procedures.

A NEC disciplinary committee upheld the view that Alan broke several rules associated with democratic procedures and had brought the union into disrepute - hence should be removed from office. Alan intends to fight this decision.

Demand Unison stops the witch-hunts, protest to Dave Prentis, general secretary, Unison, 1 Mabledon Pace, London, WC1H 9AJ.

In this issue

NHS: Not safe in their hands!