Since March this year, Mark Walker has been suspended "without prejudice" on full pay from Sunnydale Community College in Shildon, County Durham. No disciplinary charges have yet been brought. Yet Mark has been subjected to a harrowing series of 'investigatory' meetings. Mark has a young family to support and much of the period coincided with his wife being pregnant. No consideration has been shown to Mark or his family.
The latest 'investigatory meeting' is scheduled for this Monday, 3 September, 2007. The reasons given for his suspension are pretexts - misuse of school computer equipment. The political purpose of the 'investigation' is clear in the line of questioning - and because only Mark (amongst all the staff) is being singled out. Partial Justice is no Justice at all. For a rule to be fair it must be applied to everyone. Mark is being targeted in this 'rotten borough' because he has had the temerity to make his distaste for New Labour and support for the BNP clear.
Mark has strong supporters. Apart from the many parents and kids who think he is a great teacher he is backed by his trade union Solidarity and the campaigning group Civil Liberty. They have vowed to move heaven and earth to defend his human and civil rights.
Pat Harrington, the General Secretary of Solidarity, said:-
"At every stage we have sought compromise and negotiation with the employer. I get the impression that orders are coming from higher up and the people I have been addressing have no real power. Our door is always open but our Union is a fighting Union. If commonsense does not prevail we are prepared to slog it out. This is a freedom issue. We work for our members."
On Monday, 3 September, Civil Liberty have called a demonstration outside Sunnydale. From 8am there will be a picket. We urge as many people who care about freedom and are opposed to this New McCarthyism to attend.
If you are unable to attend we urge you to fax, write, email or ring the Headteacher and make clear your opposition to the persecution. Contact:-
Sue Byrne
Sunnydale Community College
Middridge Lane
Shildon
County Durham
DL4 2EP
Tel: 01388 772526
Fax: 01388 773184
E-mail: general@sunnydaleschool.co.uk
Enough is enough! No one should lose their livelihood on account of their polical belief. It's time to draw a line in the sand!
Links:
Civil Liberty
Solidarity
Tags:
Time for a laugh guys.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Harry.
An old guy visits his doctor and asks for a sperm count - so he is given a jar and told to bring back a sample.
The next day he returns to the doctor with an empty jar. What happened? says the doctor.
'Well,' the patient begins, 'I asked my wife for help. She tried with her right hand, then her left. Nothing. Then she tried with her mouth, first with her teeth in, then with her teeth out. Still nothing. We even called in Evelyn, the lady next door - but still nothing.'
The doctor bursts out, What?, you asked your neighbour?
Yes, she's a big strong girl. And no matter what we tried, we couldn't open that damn jar!
I thought this isnt like Harry and then the punchline hit.
ReplyDeleteROFL. Nice one
As a Solidarity member, I received the following item in my inbox...
ReplyDelete"Outrage" - that is the only word to describe the feelings of BNP supporters and members of the independent Trade Union Solidarity to the persecution of Mark Walker. We carried calls on this site for lovers of freedom to write to the Headteacher and join the protest picket called by Civil Liberty this Monday (3 September). We have been flooded with emails and calls on the subject. Not only are groups and individuals up and down the country letting their feelings be known to the head but they are sending messages of support and encouragement to Mark care of the school. One supporter wrote:-
"I think it's time to draw a line in the sand. This kind of political persecution is unacceptable in a modern democracy. It's like the Head at Sunnydale thinks she is living in Soviet Russia. I sent my message of support to Mark Walker on a postcard because I wanted everyone there to know my feelings. What's happening there is a disgrace. Don't let them grind you down Mark!"
The General Secretary of Solidarity, Pat Harrington, commented:-
"The employer in this case has acted in an arrogant, confrontational manner. Our Brotherhood is angry at the persecution on politcal grounds of a Union official. It is just plain wrong that because someone is a member of the BNP they should receive less favourable treatment than other staff. That's discrimination plain and simple. I am very concerned at the toll this has taken on Mark and his young family We welcome the involvement of Civil Liberty in championing Mark and will work with them to uphold his rights".
If you have not yet sent your letter of protest to the Headteacher here are the details again:-
Sue Byrne
Sunnydale Community College
Middridge Lane
Shildon
County Durham
DL4 2EP
Tel: 01388 772526
Fax: 01388 773184
general@sunnydaleschool.co.uk
Postcards encouraging and supporting Mark Walker should be sent to him care of the same address.
Things are hotting up in Shildon. Civil Liberty have leafleted the whole catchment area of the school. They have stalls in the local high street and are touring the area in speaker cars calling local people to support Mark Walker and demonstrate on Monday. The school is being flooded with emails, calls and post in support of Mark Walker and against political discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI urge all Nationalists to contact the Headteacher now. Even after the picket we should not let-up. All Nationalist blogs and bulletins should carry news of the case and the details of where to send protests. We must be relentles in defence of our traditional rights and freedoms! Well done to Solidarity and Civil Liberty for showing a lead!