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(03/12/07) Health workers will hold silent protests outside hospitals around the UK this Wednesday in support of sacked nurse Karen Reissmann. They will wear gags to show their outrage at the treatment of the UNISON activist, fired a month ago for speaking out against health cuts. The slogan for the day is “Silent Nightingales - don’t silence NHS staff this Christmas. Reinstate Karen.” UNISON’s health service group executive has called on all health workers to take part in the 15-minute lunchtime protests during their breaks or if they are off-duty. Ms Reissman has the full support of the union. It has pledged to vigorously defend members’ rights to speak out without fear of persecution. Speaking at a public rally in Manchester last weekend, assistant general secretary Bob Abberley paid tribute to the members of Ms Reissmann’s branch who have taken part in industrial action in her defence. “These are the kind of people that you want in the NHS, people who will stand up where injustice takes place,” he said. Reiterating that UNISON was “100% behind this campaign”, Mr Abberley warned Ms Reissmann’s former bosses at Manchester Mental Health Trust that the union would put maximum effort into appealing her case and ensuring justice was done. “A trade union is like a family. And when you attack one, you attack us all. [The employers] need to know that in this case, because they’ve attacked one of our family, we are going to kick them back, good and hard.” The appeal begins today (03/12/07). |