150 community mental health staff start indefinite strike Thursday 8th Nov in support of sacked nurse and union rep.Indefinite strike action by NHS staff in all 10 community mental health teams and the 3 crisis resolution teams commences Thursday 8^th November in defence of Karen Reissmann, nurse and union rep, sacked on Monday for speaking out. UNISON members were outraged to hear of Karen’s sacking and resolved to continue with strike action until she is reinstated The majority of UNISON members involved are nurses, administration workers and occupational therapists. Pickets will be 8am to 11am at North manchester General, MRI Hathersage Rd, and Chorlton House Manchester Rd Chorlton. There will be a members meeting and photo shoot at 12noon Friends Meeting house, Mount St, behind central library. Karen Reissmann, UNISON activist and community nurse was sacked by Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust. She was sacked for seriously affecting the reputation of the Trust, telling people she was suspended and what for, protesting her innocence, and allowing the press to print misleading statements. Karen has been a community psychiatric nurse in the Trust for 25 years. She had been suspended for 19 weeks. All her alleged offences relate to her trade union activity and her speaking out against government policies and local cuts. She is the branch chair and a member of UNISON’s national health executive. UNISON believes this is an attack on their union and an attack on the NHS. Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust is officially in “turnaround”. It has to make over £3million more cuts this year. These are cuts UNISON has and will vigorously oppose. We believe the sacking of Karen is an attack on her human right to freedom of expression. This is an attempt to intimidate other stewards from opposing and speaking out against cuts in service. The chief executive has already said in an internal memo that she wants an end to the bad news stories. However, in the 6 months she has been here, she has closed an elderly ward, and closed, at an hour’s notice, a respite centre. During the first 2 periods of strike action in defence of Karen the chief executive moved patients to a private hospital in Darlington - 100 miles away - causing huge distress to patients and their carers and friends. Community reorganisation has been chaos and led to significant reduction in service for patients. It is these sort of decisions which produce bad news and affect the reputation of the Trust. Karen has been a community psychiatric nurse based in Manchester for 25 years. She is based in north Manchester psychiatric unit, Park House. She lives in South Manchester. None of the offences related to her clinical work and on the day she was suspended the Trust also wrote her a letter informing her she had been successful in interview for promotion. For more information contact: Andy Gill UNISON regional office 0161 211 1000 |