They are all facing dismissal for allegations of gross misconduct. Their crime? They are alleged to be responsible for the production of a draft Unison report into racism in Hackney Council. The report, which was due to be submitted in its final form to the Commission for Racial Equality, called for tougher enforcement of the CRE's Non-Discrimination Notice, which was served on the employer after a previous report by the union branch.

Out of courtesy, the branch provided a draft of the report to the employer, in advance of its completion, to allow the council to respond to the concerns contained within it.

The report alleged that black Unison members are still victims of both direct and institutional racism and that senior officers of the council had demonstrably colluded in acts of racism (their is significant.

Hackney Council is the only employer in the country to have twice been served with a non discrimination notice by the Commission for Racial Equality. The most recent notice was served in December 2000, after Hackney Unison (the public sector workers union), in consultation with its Black Members Group, drafted a report on racist malpractice within the council.

This report is also a collaboration between the Unison branch, the Black Workers Group and individual black workers who agreed that their experiences should form part of the report's case studies.


Unfortunately, rather than debate the serious concerns raised in the report, Unison was threatened with legal action by the council.

Hackney council is seeking to silence legitimate concerns about institutional racism (including malpractice by officers at senior level) by taking disciplinary action against individual Unison Branch Officers. This is a direct threat to the whole of the union movement and to the whole of the anti-racist movement. It is a blatant act of victimisation by the only employer in the country to have twice suffered the disgrace of a non discrimination notice.

While it is recognised that the version made available to the council (at their request) was a draft version and will be revised before it is finally submitted, both the Unison branch committee and the Black Workers Group have given unanimous support to the process of drafting and submitting the document.

Officers and staff of Hackney Action for Racial Equality were present at a Unison Black Workers Group meeting on Friday and have offered support.

The threats of dismissal appear to be straightforward acts of unlawful victimisation as defined by the Race Relations Act and it is assumed that any dismissal will be found unlawful by the employment tribunals. However, Hackney does not seem to care. They want to break Unison and the anti racist tradition of the workforce. This is about generating a 'fear culture'.

Hackney Council is seeking to create a climate of fear where it is no longer possible to even articulate and describe the experience of racism in Hackney without being threatened with dismissal. Hackney Unison need your support to demonstrate that the trade union movement, and the wider community will support the local activists who have been at the forefront of challenging racism in Hackney for years.

Newly elected Labour Mayor, Jules Pipe, has been fully aware of these incidents of racism and has been silent throughout. It it time the ruling Labour group acts to stamp out racism in Hackney council

There will be an organising meeting at the Marcon Community Hall on Amhurst Road (Junction with Marcon Court) on Monday 16 December at 7.30pm.

Messages of support have already come flooding in from the movement, one stated simple; 'Brothers & Sisters - Don't get off the bus, sit at the front and ride it to
the end!'

Hackney Unison will not be silenced over racism, and they will be submitting the report as a matter of urgency. However, they need support to prevent the victimisation of key activists.





In June, Hackney Unison, in collaboration with local community groups organised a successful 'beating racism' forum. The report detailed above, was one of the products of that forum.

In response to the current threats they are now considering hosting a 'public enquiry' into racism in Hackney; where workers, residents, and community groups can give evidence in a public forum of their experiences.

Brian, Will and John are also banned from entering any council workplace (including the Unison Branch Office) to continue to function, the branch will also need to identify a workspace. Is anyone able to make available a small corner of office space in Hackney?

Any group or organisation that is willing to help us with finances, expertise, or enthusiasm for the public enquiry will be very welcome.

It is essential that we as a movement act to prevent the council from victimising these trade unionists.


Messages of support for the local branch can be sent to
Brian Debus/Will Leng
 hackney.unison@unisonfree.net
Or Fax 0208 985 6749

Messages of support to the Unison regional office can be sent to
Eddy Coulson
 e.coulson@unison.co.uk
or fax 0207 535 2105

Messages of protest can be sent to
Claer Lloyd-Jones
Hackney's Director of Law and Probity
 cljones@gw.hackney.gov.uk
or fax 0208 356 3657

Messages of concern can also be sent to
Paul Riddell
Commission for Racial Equality
email  info@cre.gov.uk
or fax 020 7939 0001