support sacked Salford Academic

[michele cryer]

I am writing to ask you to protest in support of Rhetta Moran - a researcher who has been sacked after six years working for Salford University.

Please send an email, calling for Rhetta’s reinstatement, to the vice chancellor of the university Michael Harloe on [e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> .

Rhetta, a member of the National Union of Journalists and the Association of University Teachers, was told the university could not afford to keep employing her BUT:

· Because of incompetence in the university no-one was allocated to supervise the post graduate students who had been working with Rhetta. Many of these fee paying students have given up or transfered to other colleges - costing Salford money.

· To push through Rhetta’s dismissal university bosses gave up a £192,316 research grant from the European Social Fund which she had negotiated. That money is lost to Salford for ever.

A university hearing rejected Rhetta’s appeal against her dismissal despite the fact that:

· Salford head of personnel Malcolm Willis said that he did not know the law on redundancy when he used it to sack Rhetta.

· A document was produced which demonstrated that managers had been warned to think twice about giving Rhetta a permanent job because she was a trade union rep.

· Rhetta’s line manager told the hearing she was one of the best researchers he had ever worked with.

Rhetta’s colleagues, students, and supporters believe she has been targeted for the chop because her research into refugee issues was uncomfortable for the political establishment.

If you are able please also join the lobby in support of Rhetta, called by the NUJ, outside the Old Fire station at Salford University camous on The Crescent, Salford, from 8.30am on Wednesday September 7.

Messages of support and copies of protests can be sent to [e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>.

Please pass this on the anybody else who would be interested

[Mitch]

Hey, thanks for highlighting this, I'll send an email.

Sweet b.jesus, what the hells going on at Salford Council!!

[michele cryer]

Dear Colleagues, Sister and Brother Trades Unionists and Friends



Please find attached the latest update from my union, the National Union of Journalists. May I thank everyone who has – or is planning to – send written messages of support, send letters to the vice chancellor and build the lobbies. Please continue to spread the word and please do not hesitate to get in touch if there is anything that you would like to ask me about my case or if you know of forthcoming opportunities to let more people know about what is happening.



With all good wishes



Rhetta Moran

Update on Rhetta Moran’s case
against her sacking from Salford University

The NUJ is writing to tell you about Rhetta Moran - a trades unionist and researcher who has been sacked after six years working for Salford University. Rhetta’s colleagues, students, and supporters believe that she has been targeted for the chop because her research into refugee issues, covered in local and national media, was uncomfortable for the political establishment.
So far, Rhetta has attended 3 internal hearings about her dismissal and there will be at least 1 more at which the university will have the chance to right the wrongs done by reinstating her. If they don’t, then an Employment Tribunal will hear her case over 10 days, beginning on 20th February 2005.
We are asking people to spread the word about - and come to - the next NUJ support lobby called for the day of the next hearing. Please bring banners and placards on:
Thursday 22nd September, between 8am and 10.30am,
Faraday House, Research and Graduate College, The Crescent, Salford M6 6AP
Rhetta, a member of the National Union of Journalists and the Association of University Teachers, was told the university could not afford to keep employing her BUT:
· Because of incompetence in the university no-one was allocated to supervise the post graduate students who had been working with Rhetta. Many of these fee paying students have given up or transferred to other colleges - costing Salford money.
· In July 2004, the university told Rhetta to stop putting in any new research bids
· After being paid for almost 2 years, the university stopped pursuing payment from Salford Primary Care Trust for Rhetta’s mentoring and action learning work in the Salford RAPAR SRB5 project
· To push through Rhetta’s dismissal, university bosses gave up a £192,316 research grant from the European Social Fund which she had negotiated. That money is lost to Salford for ever.
One of the universitys’ hearings has rejected Rhetta’s appeal against her dismissal despite the fact that:
· Salford head of personnel Malcolm Willis said that he did not know the law on redundancy when he used it to sack Rhetta.
· A document was produced which demonstrated that managers had been warned to think twice about giving Rhetta a permanent job because she was a trade union rep.
· Rhetta’s line manager told the hearing she was one of the best researchers he had ever worked with.
Please send an email, calling for Rhetta’s reinstatement, to the vice chancellor Michael Harloe on [e-mail], with copies to [e-mail]
The NUJ is not officially recognized by Salford university but, up and down the country, the NUJ represents many university press officers and lecturers in journalism as well as university staff who, like Rhetta, publish from their research.
Please pass this on to anybody else who would be interested.