Mental health workers in Manchester reacted with fury to the decision of their NHS trust to uphold the sacking of leading union activist Karen Reissmann.
Around 150 workers have been on indefinite strike to demand Karen’s reinstatement since the beginning of last month. A further 650 ward based staff at the trust have been on a rolling programme of action throughout the summer.
The fight for Karen’s reinstatement has seen the most important strikes in the NHS for many years, and has led to wave of support from around the country.
Last week members of the strikers’ Unison union joined a series of protests outside hospitals and other workplaces in scores of cities and towns. Many believe that if NHS trusts can sack trade union activists simply for speaking out against cuts and privatisation then the future of unions within the health service is bleak.
Unison is now set to refer Karen’s sacking to an employment tribunal.
Strikers were set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the next steps in their campaign.
There will be an update of this story in the next issue of Socialist Worker, which will be on the web from Tuesday evening
Join London Trans+ Pride on 27 July
Join the anti-fascist mobilisation on 27 July
Oppose Nazi Tommy Robinson on the same day
Fight to scrap the two-child benefit cap
