*FIGHT 'UNJUST AND UNFAIR' COSTS AGAINST FORMER UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE*

*National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members have launched a campaign against a university's plans to apply for "unjust and unfair" costs against a former employee.*

The move comes after Salford University said it would apply for legal costs against a former senior research fellow whose academic work exposed the plight of people seeking asylum in the North of England.

Dr Rhetta Moran's supporters believe she was removed from the leadership of the Salford RAPAR SRB5 research project after its findings proved to be "uncomfortable" for the political establishment. Through her work she had achieved national publicity for the difficulties being experienced by people seeking asylum and her work was highlighted on BBC TV's Newsnight and in The Observer and The Guardian newspapers before being dismissed.

NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear is urging the University of Salford to drop its application for costs against Rhetta, an active trade unionist.

Rhetta represented herself at Employment Tribunal hearings last year
after being sacked from her post.

Jeremy Dear said: "By applying for costs, the University of Salford is seeking to penalise someone who believes they were wrongly removed from their job. This move appears to have nothing to do with the cost of the case and everything to do with sending a warning to people not to ask challenging questions and expose uncomfortable realities. As such it is unjust and unfair. We urge the university to think again. And not to punish Rhetta for attempting to get her job back

"When wealthy organisations like Salford University, employing very expensive legal teams attempt to obtain costs in tribunal cases this inevitably has the effect of deterring working people from even attempting to seek any justice from the tribunal system. You're going to think twice about going to a tribunal when you could lose your job, lose your case and then be forced to pay the very people that sacked you. That is injustice.

"We cannot and will not let such vindictive actions go unchallenged."

*There are ways you can help now!*

The NUJ is appealing to supporters to write to University of Salford Vice-Chancellor Michael Harloe at  m.harloe@salford.ac.uk asking for the costs action against Rhetta to be dropped.

Please cc emails to  rhettamorancampaign@googlemail.com or write to NUJ
Manchester branch, c/o NUJ regional office, 5th floor, Arthur House, Chorlton
Street, Manchester.

You can also add your name to the petition by emailing
 rhettamorancampaign@googlemail.com

Supporters are also being urged to contact their MPs about the case.

For further information please call NUJ Manchester branch joint treasurer
Kath Grant on 0161 225 2260.