EVENTS:
- Monthly, on a Monday (1st Monday of every month?), Solidarity committee, 6pm at Mechanics Institute, corner of Major St and Princess St, Manchester.
Following the very successful lobby of parliament Wednesday 7th May with 150 people crammed into the committee room in the House of Commons and the lobbying of a number of individual MPs, the Solidarity Committee has its next meeting on Monday 12 May at 6.00 pm in the Mechanic's, Princess St, entrance Major St.
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Reissmann Sacked For Speaking Out
On Monday November 5th Karen Reissmann, CPN and UNISON branch chair was sacked on 4 counts. Firstly that, when she was interviewed in December 2006 criticising the transfer of NHS work to the voluntary sector, she brought the Trust into disrepute. Secondly, for telling people that she was suspended and what for. Thirdly, for protesting her innocence. Fourthly, for allowing the press to print information, some misleading about her case. The fifth charge of misusing time was dropped. All the charges were gross misconduct and all sackable offences.
UNISON believes this is an absolute disgrace. Union reps must have the right to campaign against cuts and victimisation of our trade union reps. The Human Rights Act brought in by the Labour government allows for freedom of expression. Karen works in the NHS, in 2007, in Britain not Burma – she must have the right to speak out without fear of persecution. If she remains sacked it will make all NHS staff and all trade union reps feel much more cautious about saying anything.
Karen Reissmann was told on Monday 10th December that her appeal had been turned down.
UNISON members voted on the 14th December to suspend their indefinite strike of community mental health teams and to return to work. But this is not the end. Their campaign to reinstate Karen Reissmann will now become a national UNISON campaign. Further strike action by the branch is planned for the New Year as part of this national campaign.
Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, who is arranging a meeting with Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health, has sent a personal message to all the strikers. He says “UNISON will not be silenced and we shall continue to campaign through all available channels to obtain Karen’s reinstatement.”
UNISON is supporting a claim for unfair dismissal at an Employment Tribunal, early day motion by UNISON sponsored MPs and looking to a national lobby of parliament in the New Year.
“I would like to thank all those colleagues who have supported my case so far and know we are all committed to an on-going national campaign to obtain my reinstatement. Neither me, nor my colleagues nor our supporters are going away” said Karen.
On Friday 19th June, Karen Reissmann, a psychiatric nurse of 25 years, was taken out of an important meeting with a vulnerable client on the direct orders of managers of Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust. She was suspended due to her long history of UNISON involvement and vociferous opposition to cuts in services - formally, this was described as "engaging in activities which have seriously affected the reputation of the Trust" and "...no longer having confidence in her as an employee". The third allegation relates to a possible misuse of her time. Karen is still in the dark as to what this relates to, but like most nurses working for MMHSCT, continually works longer than her contracted 37.5 hours per week!
It is worth noting that Karen was promoted to the post of Senior Practitioner on the very same day she was suspended - So much for the Trust having no confidence in her as an employee!
Karen has a long history of making comments to the press, opposing cuts in service, opposing the marketisation of the NHS which is increasingly being fragmented and privatised and speaking out about the consequences of this.
This is the reason behind her suspension, and this is the reason why her reinstatement is crucial.
The UNISON Health Group Executive statement of support is as follows:
"Karen Reissmann, a leading trade union activist at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust has been suspended by her employer. Karen is the UNISON Chairperson of the Manchester Community and Mental Health Branch and an elected member of the union's National Health Group Executive.
The Health Group Executive is deeply concerned that Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust has taken this harsh measure against a respected nurse and trade union official.
Furthermore we are alarmed about the manner in which this suspension was carried out. Our representations will include questions regarding this and the applicability of policies and procedures which led to such actions.
UNISON will vigorously defend our members' right to speak out without fear of persecution and we will ensure that Karen will be supported throughout this process and that her interests will be positively defended."
Thank you for visiting this site. Please visit the 'What You Can Do' section for ways in which you can add your voice to the hundreds of service users, carers, staff and local people already demanding Karen's reinstatement. The 'Links' section has links to all the leaflets on this site.
These other sites support Karen too: Karen’s Facebook campaign, MySpace - Reinstate Karen, Wordpress - Reinstate Karen Reissmann
