As you probably know, Brian Debus, long standing trade union activist, Hackney Unison Branch Chair and HTUC president has been suspended from office by his union, Unison. His suspension is nothing more than a blatant witch-hunt and we are asking you to sign this letter in Brian's support.

If you want to add your name please email me asap (by Monday 10am at the latest).

For more information on the witch-hunt, click here.

Best wishes
Jane Holgate
Secretary, Hackney Trades Union Council

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The Editor
Hackney Gazette
138 Cambridge Heath Road
London
E1 5QJ

31st July 2009

Dear Editor

Re: In Support of Brian Debus

As representatives of Hackney Unison and other London Branches, we are writing to express our disbelief at the decision of Unison to ban our Branch Chair, Brian Debus, from office for five years.

Notwithstanding the questionable justice of unelected National Officers investigating an elected representative who opposes Unison's leadership, the exclusion of Brian from office directly punishes the many ordinary members he represents who will now be denied the support of one of the most experienced Trade Unionists in Hackney.

If Unison upholds the ban, it is our belief that Hackney Unison will be significantly weakened, as will progressive Trade Union branches everywhere. At a time when the public services are braced for cuts, we simply cannot afford to be losing the services of committed activists such as Brian.

We suggest that if Unison wishes to spend time on internal investigations, it would be better served concentrating its efforts on expelling the 264 British National Party members in its national ranks, referred to at the recent National Conference, rather than Brian, who has worked tirelessly on behalf of public sector workers for many years.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Waterfall, Branch Secretary, Kathy Hamilton, Branch Treasurer, Helen Toner, Hackney Homes Convenor, Keith Veness, Deputy Hackney Homes Deputy Convenor, Lee Ray, Central Services Convenor, Karen Lynn, Education Convenor, Andrew Williamson, Childrens Services Convenor, Earl Bailey, Library Steward, Andy Clifford, Parks Steward, Paul Childs, Parks Steward, Leslie Jones, Parks Rep, Una Byrne, Libraries, Ryan Milne, Parking Steward, Eamann Devlin, Drug Action Team, Jean Howard, Concierge Steward, Tom McCotter, Bereavement, Gary Chaplin, Library Steward, Anastasia Georgiou, Health and Safety Rep, Shirley Glasgow, CYPS Steward, Glyn Harries, Housing Steward, Joy Ukaegbu, Housing Steward, Peter Coleman, Private Sector Organiser, Len Stephenson, Mental Health Steward. Martin Cootes, Branch Administrator.

London Branches

Sue Duligall, GMB Corporate Representative for Hackney, John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet Unison, Maggi Myland, Barnet UNISON, Social Services Convenor, Helen Davies, Branch Chair Barnet UNISON, Tracey Lowe, Assistant Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON, George Binette, Camden UNISON Convenor & Vice-Chair (personal capacity), Noreen Morris, Branch Secretary, Hammersmith and Fulham Unison, Gary Martin, Branch Secretary, Harrow Unison, Jon Rogers, Branch Secretary, Lambeth Unison, John McLoughlin, Branch Secretary, Tower Hamlets Unison, Eleanor Tracey, Branch Secretary, Croydon Unison
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