Unison branch secretary Vik
Chechi suspended: Urgent solidarity needed!
October 18
Vik Chechi, the Unison Branch
Secretary of Queen Mary University in east London has this afternoon been
suspended by his employer. We suspect that this is with a clear view to sack him
because management wants to weaken the union and the anti-cuts campaign in the
University which has united staff and students.
They have
been alarmed because Vik and other union activists have managed to reinvigorate
the Unison branch. This is a classic attempt to smash a fighting union branch to
allow management to drive through significant cuts including over 100
redundancies at the same as students face a tripling of tuition fees. By
disarming the union, this would be just the start of the attacks on staff and
students alike.
This is
also an attack on Unison in particular and trade unions in general, just as we
build up towards the massive pension strike on November 30th. Plymouth City
Council has recently attempted to de-recognise Unison and many employers in both
the public and private sector are looking to cut back on union facilities.
Workers cannot afford to see their union strength weakened at this critical time
when jobs, terms & conditions and pensions are on the line.
Please
protest immediately to Vik's employers demanding his immediate reinstatement
- Queen Mary University
[email protected] and 'Centre of the Cell'
[email protected]. Send copies to
[email protected]