DEFEND THE FOUR - ALL BANNED FROM OFFICE FOR BETWEEN 3 AND 5 YEARS!

DEFEND THE FOUR NEWSLETTER URGENT

DAWN RAIDS ON UNISON OFFICES!

BAN IMPOSED ON FOUR

5 March 2010

Following the mitigation hearings Glenn Kelly (Bromley), Suzanne Muna (Housing Association), Onay Kasab (Greenwich) and Brian Debus (Hackney) have all been banned from holding any office in Unison. Early this morning (5th March) UNISON officials turned up at the UNISON offices of the Bromley, Greenwich and the Housing Association having given no notice; we are awaiting an update from Hackney. The officials have attempted to confiscate computer hard drives and other resources, which include important documents on on-going personal cases.

The officials intend to run elections for new branch officers but as has happened in other branches they may well try to run the branches themselves which has led to moribund UNISON branches.

The Four have conducted a determined and high profile campaign which has meant that it has taken nearly 3 years to get them banned from office. The mitigation hearings also concluded that the length of the bans will be reduced by between 1 and 3 years. However, this morning’s action shows the vicious reality of the UNISON leaderships attacks on socialist activists within the union.

The four are urging supporters to phone or e-mail UNISON Head Office now to protest against the ban and the raids of the branch offices.

What we need you to do:

1. Let as many unison members as possible know what is happening

2. E-mail letters of protest to:

- UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis: d.prentis@unison.co.uk

- UNISON London Region: greaterlondonregion@unison.co.uk

- UNISON Head Office:

3. Phone UNISON Head Office to express your disgust on 0845 355 0845

4. Pass a motion at your next meeting to be sent to Dave Prentis.

5. Funds are urgently needed for leaflets, publicity and legal costs.

Cheques payable to: 'Stop the Witch-Hunt' and should be sent to: Defend the Four Campaign, PO Box 858, London E11 1YG.

6. Please let us know details of your protests - e-mail us at: info@stopthewitchhunt.org.uk.

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(1 March 2010:The Four have had their mitigation hearings and will know the outcome by 5th March). See the latest leaflet.

Four UNISON branch officers have now received their penalties and been banned from holding any position in UNISON for the following periods.

3 years -- Glenn Kelly and Onay Kasab

4 years -- Suzanne Muna

5 years -- Brian Debus

This means that although Glenn Kelly was recently elected to the NEC with a higher vote, he will be barred from being on the NEC for four years. We need letters of protest to be sent to Dave Prentis. Attached is a model letter to sign and send to UNISON HQ, but if you can compose your own protest letter, that would be better. Also attached is some background information and a leaflet from 2007.

There will be a lobby of the UNISON HQ on Thursday 30 July at 12 noon at Mabledon Place, WC1H 9AJ (nearest tube Euston).

All four will be appealing against this decision as well as taking their case to an ET in August to prove that the union has discriminated against the four on the grounds of "philosophical beliefs". Please ensure that as many trade unionists as possible protest to Dave Prentis!