8:00am Sunday 9th August 2009
A HEARING will be held tomorrow to decide whether a union discriminated against four activists accused of racism.
Public service union Unison took action against its members, including the Greenwich branch's Onay Kasab and Bromley’s Glenn Kelly, after they produced a leaflet showing the three wise monkeys from a Japanese proverb.
The leaflet had the caption "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" and criticised the union for a lack of debate at its national conference in 2007.
But the four were told by union chiefs some people could find the image racially offensive and at a disciplinary hearing on July 16, Unison’s claims were upheld and the activists now face three-year bans from office.
The activists, who are all members of the Socialist Party, say the union is discriminating against them based on their political beliefs and a five-day hearing will be held at the Employment Tribunals in central London tomorrow.
Mr Kasab said: "The reality is that this is a witch hunt.
“We have provided evidence from mainstream anti-racist organisations such as Greenwich Council for Racial Equality who have confirmed that the image has no racial connotation whatsoever.
“This is a reaction to the criticism that we have made of the leadership. It now seems that according to Unison that criticism within a trade union is a disciplinary offence.
“Our message to the union is to let the members decide. I have received resounding backing from those who I represent and who have elected me year after year."
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