Dear Editor,

We, the undersigned, wish to convey our disgust at the act of hate crime vandalism carried out on the car of Barnet UNISON branch secretary John Burgess on 8th July. We note this attack took place two weeks after his name appeared in support of a planned anti-fascist protest in Golders Green and 10 days after John and the Barnet UNISON banner featured prominently in the trade union block on the Pride March.  Given this background we do not think either the manner of the attack or the homophobic language used were coincidental. We also believe that the way in which  some sections of the media and some politicians  have chosen to vilify trade unions,  has played  a role  by  seeming to legitimise such an individual attack as has been suffered by John Burgess. John is an elected official who enjoys the support of his branch membership. If this attack was an attempt to silence the work of John or the branch he represents, then it has failed. We will not stand aside and allow a fellow trade unionist, who has set an outstanding example over several years, to be intimidated in this way. We call on all supporters to join the Barnet UNISON branch on the community demonstration 12^th September in Barnet to save Barnet Libraries at 11.15 a.m. Church End Library N3 1TR.

Dave Prentis, General Secretary UNISON

Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, PCS

Christine Blower, General Secretary of NUT

Ian Hodson, National President BFAWU

John McDonnell MP

Jeremy Corbyn MP

Chris Stephens MP

Aditya Chakrabortty, Senior Economics Commentator,The Guardian

John Hendy QC

Bush Hill Park Labour Party

Nicola Field, Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (pc)

Gethin Roberts, Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners

Weyman Bennett, Joint Secretary Unite Against Fascism

Barnet Alliance for Public Services

Tirza Waisel, Barnet Alliance for Public Services

Barbara and Bob Jacobson, Barnet Alliance for Public Services

Chris Kaufman, Chairman, Enfield Alliance Against the Cuts

Social Work Action Network

Ellen Clifford, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC)

Paula Peters, DPAC 

Debbie Jolly DPAC

Roger Lewis DPAC

Linda Burnip, DPAC steering group

Helen Davies, NEC and Branch Chair Barnet UNISON

Jon Rogers, NEC and Branch Secretary Lambeth UNISON

Sonya Howard, NEC and Branch Secretary Kensington and Chelsea UNISON

Max Watson, NEC and Branch Secretary London Metropolitan University UNISON

John McLoughlin, Local Government Service Group Executive and Branch Secretary Tower Hamlets

Sue Plain, Local Government Service Group Executive and Branch Secretary, Southwark UNISON

Sean Fox, Haringey LG joint branch secretary & NJC
Andrew Berry, UNISON National Labour Link Committee

Roger Tichborne, Barnet Eye blog

Theresa Musgrove, Broken Barnet blog

Derek Dishman, Mr Mustard blog

John Dix, Mr Reasonable blog

Cllr Amy Trevethan, Barnet Council

Cllr Paul Edwards, Barnet Council

A M Poppy, Barnet Green Party

Adele Ward, Barnet Green Party

Ray Knight, Branch Secretary, Bush Hill Park Labour Party

Patrick Hunter, Barnet Trades Council Secretary

Paul Coles, GMB Convenor, Barnet

Keith Nason, Barnet NUT Division Secretary

Greg Edwards, Fire Brigades Union Barnet Borough Rep

Kevin Courtney, Deputy General Secretary, NUT

Julie Davies Divisional Secretary Haringey NUT

Candy Udwin PCS National Gallery

Alan Wylie, Unison Member & Library Campaigner

Onay Kasab, Unite Regional Officer

George Binette, Camden UNISON Branch Secretary

Phoebe Watkins and Barry Walden, joint Chair Camden UNISON

Glenn Kelly, Bromley UNISON Branch Secretary

Gavin Mott/Esther Rey, Joint Branch Secretaries Hounslow LG Branch UNISON

Laurie Pocock, Croydon UNISON Branch Secretary

Matt Ratcliffe, Hillingdon UNISON Branch Secretary

Alasdair Hill, Barnet Liberal Democrats

Caroline Powls Barnet UNISON member

Martin Francis, Brent Green Party, Wembley Matters blog

Pat Poole, UCU Branch Administrator, University of York UCU

Noel Lynch, Chair Green Party Trade Union group, 

Peter Murry Secretary Green Party Trade Union group, 

Rick Jewell, Branch Officer, NHC Postal Branch CWU

Tom Walker, CWU Branch Secretary, Northern Home Counties Postal Branch

Dexter Whitfield, Director, European Services Strategy Unit

Martin Sleath, Jt Branch Secretary, Notts Unison

Serena Powis, UNISON Chairperson, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Branch

Christopher Roche, Vice President, Bath UCU

Rabbi Jeffrey, Newman Member of Unite

Ben Jackson, UNISON Branch Secretary, Manchester Community and Mental Health UNISON Branch

Keith Martin, Chaville Press

Amanda Brown, UNISON Branch Secretary, Dorset County Branch

Glen Williams, Branch Secretary, Sefton UNISON

Bath Trade Unions’ Council

Andrew Dismore AM, London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden

Philip Lewis, Camden UNISON Vice Chair & Branch Health & Safety officer & Conv.ASC in HASC & UNISON National & Regional Health & Safety Comm.

Gary Padgett, Assistant Branch Secretary, UNISON Lincolnshire County Branch

Charles Pottins, assistant secretary Brent Trades Union Council, member West London retired branch,Unite.

Bahir Laattoe, Barnet NUT President

 

Cllr. A. Moore Leader of Barnet Labour Party 

To add your name email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Background:

Barnet Press: “Union condemns hate crime as rep’s car is vandalised” click here

Hendon Times: ‘We won’t let the bullies intimidate us’ – union rep in hate attack click here