Reinstate Charlotte Monro

by New Worker correspondent

HEALTH service campaigners turned out en masse at an Employment Tribunal (ET) in support of Charlotte Monro, the victimised Unison activist who was sacked on a trumped up charge last year.

Charlotte Monro, a Unison rep at a Leytonstone hospital, was dismissed in 2013 after 26 years of service. The occupational therapist was dismissed after Barts Health Trust claimed it discovered an undisclosed convictions relating to protests in 1960s and 70s.

But the her members know she’s been victimised because she raised the concerns of staff over the impact of cuts on patient care with Waltham Forest Health Scrutiny Committee, and discussed the cuts with her union members.

Charlotte was chair of her Unison branch for many years and staff side chair at her hospital, Whipps Cross. When Whipps was threatened with closure several years ago she took a leading role in a successful campaign to save it, for which she was later given an award by the Trust Board of the time.

Her ET has the full support of her union. Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said:  “We call on the trust to reconsider its decision to dismiss such a long-serving and valued health service worker and union official, and to recognise the impact this has on the wider workforce morale and the reputation of the trust. No employer should be allowed to act in this way”.

The judge made it clear that he recognised the national interest in this case and  adjourned the case until January due to the unavailability of the tribunal judges for the full four days set aside for the case. Meanwhile the campaign to reinstate Charlotte Monro continues with an online petition and other solidarity actions.