Nurse suspended for being union official - claim
Apr 1 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal
A SUSPENDED staff nurse is to face health chiefs at an employment tribunal after claiming he received unfair treatment for being a trade union member.
Yunus Bakhsh was removed from his position of full-time Unison secretary for the North of Tyne branch in September 2006.
The 47-year-old will face representatives from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust at an employment tribunal when a five-day slot is found for the hearing.
Mr Bakhsh, 47, of Gateshead, claims he has been suspended on grounds of being a trade union member which has prevented him from working since September 2006.
Before being released full-time to carry out his union duties, he had worked as a staff nurse and has been registered in the profession since 1985
Hospital bosses cited the reason behind their decision was an anonymous letter making allegation of misconduct, which Mr Bakhsh said he has never seen.
He said: “They have claimed it was on the basis of receiving an anonymous letter which they have refused to show me.
“I believe they have victimised me for carrying out lawful trade union activities and I believe quite strongly that they have broken the law.
“I’m a trade unionist who stands up to the people that I report to and the trust doesn’t seem to like that.
“I believe in standing up for everyone in the hospital and believe that people should have basic rights at work. It’s more about being someone who believes in the NHS, not just a trade union.
“When I see managers giving themselves bigger pay rises, greater than the salaries of 90% of people who work in the hospital and then they are the same people who say we have to cut services, then I believe in standing up.”
Mr Bakhsh says he has received enormous support from colleagues who have helped to raise funds for his case and who carried out a protest outside St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, last year. He added: “I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support I have received and this is what has kept me going.
“It has taken a terrible toll on me, it has affected my health and there is no doubt at all about that.”
A spokeswoman for Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust said they could not comment due to the impending tribunal.
