The scandalous treatment of nurse Yunus Bakhsh by both his employer and his union made further waves last week when the Private Eye magazine reported his case.
Yunus was sacked from his job and later expelled from the Unison union after a number of “anonymous” allegations were made against him.
A leading union activist, Yunus argued that there was a racial motivation for the complaints against him, and that this should be investigated. Yet neither his NHS trust nor Unison took his claim seriously.
It was revealed earlier this year that one of those who complained against Yunus had joined a variety of Facebook groups that were a focus for the far right. She also had a BNP member as a Facebook friend.
In an extensive article, Private Eye assessed the evidence that the Nazi BNP were involved in targeting Yunus in revenge for a campaign that saw one of their members sacked from a Newcastle hardware store.
It also highlighted the possibility of the group having a mole inside Unison’s northern region.
The disgraceful attack on Yunus by his union continues to cause a storm of anger among activists on Tyneside.
In response, leading members of the region have tabled a motion to a forthcoming regional committee that seeks to vilify some Unison members who have raised the issues of racism that surround the case.
Their proposition demands that two north east Unison officers who have supported Yunus “consider their position” and calls for an “investigation” into all Unison activists who continue to back Yunus.
The leadership of Unison’s northern region may be able to cajole their supporters into voting for such a measure, but the story of the hounding of Yunus Bakhsh has become a widely known and embarrassing stain on the trade union movement.
It is one that increasing numbers are demanding is erased by the restoration of Yunus to his job and full Unison membership, and a thorough investigation into racism in the union.
Email messages of support to [email protected] or write to Defend Yunus Bakhsh Campaign, c/o 46c Lawe Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE33 2EN
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