10:18am Wednesday 4th March 2009
ACTIVISTS being disciplined by a union over racism charges have launched their own legal claim.
Public service union Unison is taking action against four of its members, including the Greenwich branch's Onay Kasab.
The four produced a leaflet featuring the three wise monkeys from a Japanese proverb with the caption "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".
The leaflet criticised the union for a lack of debate at its national conference in 2007, but the four have been told by union chiefs some people could find the image racially offensive.
A disciplinary hearing was held last May and adjourned till March 18. If Unison’s claims are upheld the four face suspension from office or expulsion from the union.
However, all four have now launched their own claim at an employment tribunal saying the union is discriminating against them based on their political beliefs.
Mr Kasab said: “When we first heard about it we were absolutely shocked.
“The real reason for the union’s action against us is because of our membership of the Socialist Party.
“All four of us have been criticising the union leadership and this is an attempt to silence us.
“We don’t believe there’s any racist connotations and it’s more of a witch hunt because of our political views.”
He adds that charges against non-Socialist member Matthew Waterfall, of Hackney, were dropped despite him admitting taking part in the production, printing and cost of the leaflet.
He said: “We did not even see the cartoon before giving our approval but we did see the words.
“We issued in writing an apology to anybody who may have been offended.
“Black members here in Greenwich think it’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s nonsense and makes a mockery of the union.”
A directions hearing was held at the Employment Tribunals, in central London, on February 27 and the case was adjourned until May 12.
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