Karen Reissmann sacked!

[articul8]

This is presumably a general fob-off, but this is the response I have had from the trust:

Thank you for your comments. Sheila Foley has asked me to respond on her behalf to your e-mail. Sheila has noted your comments and concerns regarding the dismissal of Karen Reissmann.
Dismissal is not a decision taken lightly, is very rare and only taken when there are very serious concerns. Dismissal is a decision only taken where it is believed that it is in the best interests of patients, staff and carers who must always come first. All the way through this matter the Care Trust has followed the correct processes. As Chief Executive Sheila believes that this is the right decision to take and that it is being taken in the best interest of the Trust and the patients we care for.

Ms Reissmann has the right to appeal the decision and as this is a private employment matter there is nothing more we can say regarding this issue in order to protect confidentiality. At this time it is difficult to respond in detail to all mailings however your concerns are noted and we are keeping copies of all the correspondence for future reference as part of the review process.

Sheila Foley has asked me to apologise on her behalf that she has not been able to respond to you personally.

Thank you and regards

no justification, just "procedures were followed"

 

[Matt S]

Yeah, its a general email, I just got an identical one.

Matt

 

[urbanrevolt]

Sheila Foley has been unable to reply to you personally as she is on holiday in Dubai! Something that has caused some comment in the local press.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1023796_strikerow_boss_in_desert_storm

It's worth Unison members e-mailing [email protected] to ask him to make a public statement in support of Karen and the strikers, publicise the rally to all Unison branches and sanction the whole mental health branch being allowed to take further action- activists are asking for indefinite action for all 700 not just the 150 community staff. Donations and messages of support also very welcome.

Also send protests to Health Secretary [email protected] and may be write a letter to tie them up.

Finally see if you can come on the demo

 

[shagnasty]

From John McDonnell MP
"For public use:
"
Labour MP John McDonnell is seeking to raise Karen Reissman's case in Parliament to draw attention to the heavy handed attempt by the Manchester Mental Health Trust to silence Karen from speaking out to expose the implications of cuts in local services for patients.
John said "I believe that many Members of parliament will be shocked at the heavy handed and bullying tactics being used by this health body to silence one of its critics from exposing the effect its cuts in services will mean for patients. That is why I am seeking to raise this issue in Parliament in the hope that the Health Trust will back off from trying to intimidate staff in this way."

J m met trade unionist today and is set to call an early day motion
http://www.labournet.net/ukunion/0711/karen16.html

 

[Macullam]

Pics from Demo 24th november

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/OxonTUC/Mchrdemo

A good turnout with support from Unison branches from as far as London and Glasgow as well as other unions RMT PCS NUT and others. John Rees spotted not sure if he was speaking I had to leave early. Two seperate Respect Stalls and a mobilisation from SWP who would have kept a low profile pre split. Heard some gossip that UNison might be offering Karen a job as a way of ending the dispute.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

It was an excellent event. I was pleasantly suprised at turn out.

1 fly in the ointment for me was the fawning reception for the local MP whose party has created this climate of fundementalism and authoritarianism.

A party who I understand failed to support KR at council level in a recent vote (website hasnt updated votes since July)

2 faced Labour? Who'd have thunk it?

This individual MP has taken against me for pointing out more of his double standards on stock transfer (says one thing nationally, another locally)
He also wants us all fingerprinted and eyescanned.

Why do the unions continue to keep this right wing shower afloat
"here's some more money - please keep defecating on us". Weird.

 

[Macullam]

National solidarity Day Wednesday December 5th.

Solidarity with karen reissmann

National solidarity Day Wednesday December 5th.

Unison national health executive agreed to support a national
solidarity
day for Karen Reissmann and her colleagues who are on indefinite strike

on Wednesday 5th December.

We are asking health branches, and anyone else who wants to, to
organise
lunchtime protests at hospital gates on the day campaigning for our
right to speak out about cuts and privatisation
A suggestion is to have health workers gagged carrying placards saying
"Silent nightingales - Don't silence our health workers this Xmas -
reinstate Karen Reissmann" or to have health workers gagged unable to
tell Father Xmas what they want this year,carrying same placards.

If you want a couple of strikers to come to your protest please contact

Richard on 07737 300859 to ask .

If you are organising an event please can you let us know.

Manchester Community and Mental health Unison

 

[nwnm]

Don't forget tomorrow's day of action. My union branch has donated 5K to the strike fund

 

[belboid]

no news on how the appeal (which started yesterday) is going, i take it?

I reckon she will be offered a different post on a slightly lower grading as a way of trying to her her off. Doubt it'd work tho

 

[poster342002]

I reckon she will be offered a different post on a slightly lower grading

Or just be stonewalled and fobbed off?

 

[belboid]

you clearly don't understand what an 'appeal' is

 

[poster342002]

you clearly don't understand what an 'appeal' is

I know exactly what an 'appeal' is and how most of them are just a formality that upholds the employer's original position to dismiss the worker.

 

[belboid]

so, she wont be 'fobbed off', she'll be sacked. somewhat different

 

[nwnm]

no news on how the appeal (which started yesterday) is going, i take it?

I reckon she will be offered a different post on a slightly lower grading as a way of trying to her her off. Doubt it'd work tho

I've yet to hear the results of this. latest SW article here

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=13715

worth watching the SW website for online updates

 

[urbanrevolt]

still going on tomorrow result expected tomorrow or Monday

 

[urbanrevolt]

cracking demo the other week btw here's an article that I think helps capture the atmosphere
http://www.permanentrevolution.net/?view=entry&entry=1800

 

[nwnm]

probs not till monday then. My experience of this shit is that the bastards make you sweat as long as possible - regardless of the result. My disciplinary, which should have taken 2 months took over a year before I was reinstated

 

[urbanrevolt]

probs not till monday then. My experience of this shit is that the bastards make you sweat as long as possible - regardless of the result. My disciplinary, which should have taken 2 months took over a year before I was reinstated

You're prob right may be not even til after that.
Excellent- on the reinstatement that is!

 

[TremulousTetra]

There will a solidarity rally with Karen Reissmann and her Unison colleagues in Piccadilly Gardens, tomorrow, Tuesday 11th December, 6.00 p.m.

The bosses at the Community Mental Health Trust, true to form, today confirmed Karen's sacking after spending a week pretending to take Karen''s appeal seriously. Angry pickets waiting outside the Trust building shouted their defiance and determination to keep up the fight.

Bring union banners and placards – and friends and workmates.

 

[Macullam]

The bosses at the Community Mental Health Trust, true to form, today confirmed Karen's sacking after spending a week pretending to take Karen''s appeal seriously. Angry pickets waiting outside the Trust building shouted their defiance and determination to keep up the fight.

What then is the response from Unison are they going to allow the Trust to pick off another activist. How long can the strike action be sustained ? No doubt the trust will pay whatever it takes to get rid of her at industrial tribunal. There is in my opinion an unholy alliance between New Labour the Trusts and Unisons National and regional leadership,

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Sheila Foley has been unable to reply to you personally as she is on holiday in Dubai! Something that has caused some comment in the local press.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1023796_strikerow_boss_in_desert_storm

The mind boggles!

A worker gets sacked for talking to the media about funding cuts, because that apparently brings the trust into disrepute.

A chief executive swans off on holiday in the middle of a strike...?

If the former brings the trust into disrepute, shouldn't clocking off and leaving the country and leaving the organisation in the hands of a deputy while in the middle of a serious incident also bring the trust into disrepute?

 

[mk12]

Either Karen or a speaker from her campaign is coming to our area on Thursday, so hopefully they'll be a good turnout for that.

 

[urbanrevolt]

The latest news is still sacked after six day appeal. There has been a good base of support locally- 1500 and many union banners on the demo. Think it important support is all the more forthcoming now.

Demo tomorrow in Manchester 6 p.m. Picadilly Gardens

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

The latest news is still sacked after six day appeal. There has been a good base of support locally- 1500 and many union banners on the demo. Think it important support is all the more forthcoming now.

Demo tomorrow in Manchester 6 p.m. Picadilly Gardens

Wouldn't Cathedral Gardens outside Urbis where Channel M News broadcasts from be a more media friendly location? (So long as you don't shout too loudly and interfere with sound on the bulletin.)

 

[nwnm]

The bosses at the Community Mental Health Trust, true to form, today confirmed Karen's sacking after spending a week pretending to take Karen''s appeal seriously. Angry pickets waiting outside the Trust building shouted their defiance and determination to keep up the fight.

What then is the response from Unison are they going to allow the Trust to pick off another activist. How long can the strike action be sustained ? No doubt the trust will pay whatever it takes to get rid of her at industrial tribunal. There is in my opinion an unholy alliance between New Labour the Trusts and Unisons National and regional leadership,

Spot on IMO (but then, I have my own reason to be bitter despite my survival of something similar). UNISON leadership in particular are acting like a bunch of bastards; conniving with bosses/newlabour and picking off those who have built the fucking union. This is turning into a bit of a witch hunt at the mo - a number of SP/SWP members have been under attack. al the more important to defend Karen AND the others who've been either left to fend for themselves or attacked by their union tops as well

 

[nwnm]

report on Karen here -
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=13732

 

[urbanrevolt]

Quite a good rally- 200 or so there, with only 24 hrs to organise not bad at all.

The main point is that they voted to stay out on indefinite strike so the support is all the more needed and real pressure on Unison to up the action and bring real pressure to bear on the government.

 

[TremulousTetra]

STRIKE IN SUPPORT OF SACKED NURSE SUSPENDED

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED

UNISON members voted today to suspend their indefinite strike of
community mental health teams and will return to work on Monday. 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.

For more details contact

Steve Stott, UNISON regional office 0161 211 1000

Or Karen Reissmann, branch chair 07972 120 451

Or Caroline Bedale, branch secretary 07931 152 001

 

[urbanrevolt]

The strike has been fantastic but can't help but feel this is a sell-out unless the branch really orgnaise on the ground to make sure that their demands are met which will mean criticising the decision to suspend the strike and looking at ways of reigniting it.

http://permanentrevolution.net/?view=entry&entry=1833

 

[belboid]

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=17003

Settled then, and seemingly kind of in Karen's favour, but no promise or order for re-instatement.