SOCIALIST OUTLOOK reported recently on Bernie Hynes' derecognition as a trade union rep by his employer, British Gas, and the disgraceful role of a national UNISON official in the affair.
Attending a meeting at UNISON HQ in December, Bernie was asked to meet win the mead or energy Mike Jeran. Unannounced, Dave Johnson, Deputy Head of Energy, and Chris Gorman, Chair of the Service Sector Executive, also turned up.
Jeran interrupted Bernie's account of his Industrial Tribunal case over his derecognition by producing copies of the articles about Bernie published in this paper - so this was what the meeting was about!
The AGM agenda of the Campaign for a Fighting and Democratic UNISON (CFDU) and resolutions were also produced, although Jeran did say he didn't have a problem with the resolution on Bernie's derecognition.
Bernie was asked to sign a letter saying there had been a misunderstanding over the article in Socialist Organiser. Bernie was more than happy to sign the statement: since there is no such paper as Socialist Organiser, there must have been a misunderstanding!
It's good to know these bureaucrats regard us as so influential, even though they can't get the name of our paper right, and that they appreciate the dangers of being seen to sell out.
Meanwhile, Bernie Hynes has as yet found the regional officer less than helpful in preparing for his industrial tribunal case, which was originally scheduled in December but was adjourned to 8 January at the regional officer's request.
On 5 January, Bernie had not seen management's witness statements or submitted his own documents to the IT, although evidence should be exchanged 14 days in advance of the tribunal date.
He had to ask the tribunal office for another adjournment himself, until 9 February. The regional officer wanted to go ahead in a situation in which Bernie felt he was at a complete disadvantage.
As we go to press, with just two weeks to go, witness statements and other written documentation have still not beeh -exchanged, or on Bernie's side, prepared.
Bernie's case raises serious questions about the union's willingness, nationally and locally, to defend the right of trade unionists to choose their own reps, and those reps' ability to stand up for members in the workplace.
Very basic union rights are under attack.
We welcome Mike Jeran's support for the CFDU resolution and will report in future issues of Socialist Outlook how Jeran and other officials have put this into practice in vigorously defending Bernie's fight against derecognition.