Bolton Uni: reinstate Damien and Jenny Markey!


Salford Socialist Party

The campaign for the reinstatement of sacked trade unionists Damien and Jenny Markey began on Monday 30 April at Bolton University with around 50 people, including staff, trade unionists and university students, protesting at the outrageous actions of the university management.

On Friday 20 March, the University and College Union (UCU) branch secretary Damien was called before a ‘disciplinary hearing’ at 30 minutes notice, before being summarily dismissed.

The hearing lasted all of 45 minutes, after which Damien was escorted off the premises by University security.

The following Monday his wife Jenny, a Unison member, was also sacked.

Management have recently been embarrassed at several stories in the national press that allege a serious misuse of public money by the university. George Holmes, the highly paid vice chancellor, in particular has benefited after receiving a £960,000 bridging loan to buy a house in the town.

The sacking of the two, just before Easter, is a particularly cynical manoeuvre by the University bosses as a large proportion of the staff are now on leave.

However, with more than 2,000 signatures already collected on a petition for the pair’s reinstatement, the campaign is clearly gathering momentum.

More protests will be organised over the coming weeks.

  • Please sign the petition calling for the reinstatement of Jenny and Damien at www.ucu.org.uk/7464 and send messages of support to Jenny and Damien via the Unison branch at [email protected]