Manchester mental health staff to strike for third time

Manchester mental health staff will strike for a third time this week in support of a community psychiatric nurse allegedly suspended for trade union activities.

Unison members at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust will stage a two-day walkout this Wednesday and Thursday in protest against the suspension of branch chair Karen Reissmann.

They have already staged two three-day strikes over Unison claims that Reissmann was suspended for speaking out against a restructuring of community mental health services. She claimed that while this enhanced crisis resolution and assertive outreach provision, mainstream community services have faced significant cuts.

Reissmann faces a gross misconduct charge and has had a number of meetings with the trust over her future employment.

She said that the industrial action was likely to continue unless she was reinstated.

The trust said that the strike “could not affect the ongoing suspension process regarding Karen Reissmann”.

Chief executive Sheila Foley said: “We urge Unison to reassess their approach to this action which continues to affect delivery of patient care and welfare.”

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