photo: Caroline Bedale

Manchester Community and Mental Health UNISON
c/o union office, Chorlton House, 70 Manchester Rd, Manchester M21 9UN.
(07990 957 174 reinstatekaren@aol.com c.bedale@btinternet.com)

The appeal against sacking for Karen Reissmann, sacked nurse and union rep, begins on Monday 3rd December at Chorlton House. Management have said they expect the appeal to take up to 4 days.

On Wednesday Karen’s whole branch of mental health staff will join the 150 on indefinite strike. This is part of the national solidarity day for Karen.

UNISON health executive have called a national “Solidarity Day” on Wednesday 5th December in support of sacked nurse Karen Reissmann and 150 of her colleagues who are on indefinite strike for her reinstatement. This will take place during her appeal and is exactly one month after she was sacked.

Across the UK, supporters will have lunchtime protests at hospitals and other workplaces demanding Karen’s reinstatement. It is already planned for North Manchester General Hospital, MRI, Wythenshawe Hospital, Harpurhey social services, Manchester Town Hall, and more in Manchester. We know of Leicester, London, Glasgow, Gwent, Liverpool, Bolton and many more “Silent Nightingales” with health workers and supporters gagged “Don’t silence our NHS staff this Xmas – Reinstate Karen”. Ending the day with silent protest from 6 – 6. 30pm in Albert Sq, Manchester

The 150 community mental health team UNISON members who are on indefinite strike will be joined by all Karen’s branch of 700 mental health staff who will be on strike for the day.

Karen’s sacking has implications for health workers, public sector workers, trade unionists, users of our public services everywhere, journalists etc. If dissent is suppressed in the public services, staff will be unable to debate the merits of any proposals and we will all be the worse off.

Karen - a nurse and a trade unionist for 25 years

- promoted 15/6/07 and suspended 15/6/07

- sacked 5/11/07 for speaking out against cuts and privatisation

- sacked 5/11/07 for telling people she was suspended and that she was innocent

For more information contact

Andy Gill UNISON regional office, 0161 211 1000
Caroline Bedale, branch secretary, 07931 152 001
or Karen Reissmann, branch chair 07972 120 451