Star date: 15th May 2015

UCU AND UNISON MEMBERS ATTACKED BY SALFORD UNIVERSITY, SALFORD COUNCIL AND BOLTON UNIVERSITY

"Attacks on trade unionists are part of a growing trend towards shutting down dissent" Maxine Peake

The last few months have seen attacks on trade union members by Salford Council and the Universities of Salford and Bolton, and over the next three days there's going to be reprisals.

First up is a demonstration in Bolton tomorrow, Saturday 16th May, calling for the reinstatement of UCU and UNISON members Damien and Jenny Markey at Bolton University. Saturday afternoon sees TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady moving her Frow Lecture from the University of Salford in protest at UCU members being sacked. And on Monday there's a lobby of Salford Labour Group in protest at Salford Council's attack on the elected UNISON rep. And the Tories haven't even got their feet under the Government table yet...

Full details here... 

David Cameron hasn't even started his vicious attack on the trade union movement yet but in Bolton and Salford he's not needed – the Universities and Salford Council are doing a great job already.

BOLTON UNIVERSITY

Tomorrow sees a march and rally in Bolton town centre calling for the reinstatement of Damien and Jenny Markey. On 20th March, Damien Markey, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bolton and Branch Secretary of the lecturers trade union, UCU, was sacked following allegations that he had leaked information to the press with the aim of `bringing the University into disrepute'. He was given just thirty minutes to prepare for the disciplinary meeting which decided to dismiss him.

His wife, Jennifer Markey, a colleague at the University and member of the trade union, UNISON, was dismissed in a disciplinary meeting the following Monday. Obviously they deny all the charges and have massive backing from the trade unions and actress Maxine Peake who is supporting the campaign and hits the nail on the head when she says: "Attacks on trade unionists are part of a growing trend towards shutting down dissent. We need transparency and accountability from our public institutions and political representatives."

Bolton University Students Union echoed the sentiment: "As the University student body we feel that the sacking of Damien and Jennifer is unfair and unjustified. We believe the sacking is a vindictive act on trade union members. We cannot allow our staff members to be threatened for standing up for what they believe in."

Reinstate Damien and Jenny Markey
Saturday 16th May 10:30am: assemble Queens Park (Spa Road/Gilnow Road car park): 11:00am Protest walk around Bolton town centre: 12noon Rally Bolton Town Hall Square with speakers Kevan Nelson, Regional Secretary UNISON North West; Lynn Collins, Regional Secretary North West TUC; MP Julie Hilling and Martyn Moss, Regional Official, UCU North West.

SALFORD UNIVERSITY

In April, University of Salford staff went on a one day strike in support of two UCU members in the marketing department who were unlawfully sacked for no apparent reason (see previous Salford Star article – click here). The dispute is still rumbling on, and, in protest, TUC General Secretary, Frances O'Grady has moved Saturday's Frow Lecture, saliently titled 'The future of the left - where next for Labour, trade unions and the working class?', from the University's premises to the Mechanics Institute on Princess Road Manchester (see interview with Frances O'Grady and full details – click here)

2015 Frow Lecture
'The future of the left - where next for Labour, trade unions and the working class?'
Frances O'Grady
Saturday 16th May 2:15pm-4pm
Mechanics Institute, Princess Street, Manchester M1 6DD

SALFORD CITY COUNCIL

The leaflets given out by the University staff on the day of their strike asked: `Is any job safe in Salford?...Join  us to stop this happening again, or it could be you..' And, lo and behold, Salford Council were next in line, withdrawing the right for democratically elected UNISON Branch Treasurer, Ameen Hadi, to represent his members.

Ameen was hauled before Council bosses after a lobby challenging the Council's cuts to the Health Improvement Service and told that he was no longer allowed to represent his members... "Salford UNISON has long had an agreement with Salford Council that our members – not our employer – decide who will act as full time officers" responded the union, calling for a lobby of Salford Labour Group councillors on Monday to shame the `red Tory' trade union bashers (see previous Salford Star articles - click here and click here).

Stop The Attack On Our Union Lobby
Monday 18th May 5pm-6pm
Salford Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton M27 5FJ

UPDATE: 18th May:

A joint statement has been issued:
 
"The City Council and UNISON have agreed to a period of meaningful discussion and dates have been agreed. Both parties will use their best endeavours to reach a mutually agreeable outcome. During this time, established branch secondments will remain unchanged. At the conclusion of these discussions both parties reserve the right to reach their own decision on the next steps should this be necessary."