Karen Reissmann
In an outrageous attack on trade union freedom Karen Reissmann was sacked
on Monday November 5th for speaking out about cuts in services and privatisation in Manchester Community Mental Health Trust. Health workers in the North Manchester NHS trust have already taken 14 days of action (unpaid) in her defence. I understand they are planning indefinite action starting next week to fight for the reinstatement of Karen Reissmann with Unison authorising strike pay (which is not full pay). This is incredible determination and solidarity from these workers who are losing significant amounts of money in the run-up to Xmas. Karen was sacked for no more than doing her job properly as a trade unionist defending the NHS as a public service and representing her members properly. For the employers to succeed in getting away with this would be a majpr blow for union organisation in the health service and would almost certainly be the signal for a wider attack on union representatives in other trusts. Please find attached a leaflet and petition to circulate.
These workers, and Karen, will need the maximum solidarity in the days ahead.
