On March 31^st 2010, Abdul Omer Moshin was sacked for being an effective union rep at Sovereign buses. Omer has been suspended and sacked for his union activities. He is guilty of leading an effective campaign as part of the drive for a decent London wage for bus drivers. He has also built up union organisation from a very weak base and built politically across the garages where he was convenor. This has never been in doubt and is the type of activity we seek to encourage amongst our best activists. Omer has built support across the movement, with Tony Benn offering "full support" for Omer’s reinstatement.

At the July meeting of Unites London and Eastern region, the minutes record that the Regional Secretary advised, "that Abdul Omer was sacked for being an effective union rep. The Regional Secretary informed the Committee that a financial appeal had been circulated to branches.

The Regional Secretary gave an update to the Committee. He advised that we are committed to fight this vicious attack on the union, and are supporting this case as far as we can legally."

At a recent Bus workers conference, AGS Len McCluskey, pledged his "unequivocal support" for Omer’s reinstatement.

In the summer, a consultative ballot in the garage returned a positive vote for action. Sovereign drivers then voted unanimously to ballot for industrial action at a mass meeting to try and win back their convenors reinstatement. Despite this the garages have not yet had any official ballot. Apart from the democratic wishes of members not being honoured, Omer remains in limbo, victimised for being an effective union rep.

Jerry Hicks, a candidate for the General Secretary election of Unite the union said, "Why is it that each attempt by him [Omer] and his supporters to raise these issues are met with manoeuvres, evasion and excuses to prevent any campaign? As we face an employers’ offensive that is leading to many more attempts to attack our best activists at BA and beyond, when is UNITE going to stand by our reps beginning with a campaign to defend Abdul Omer Moshin"?

Omer is asking for the support of the union in asking the union to organise a campaign to stop the union busting at Sovereign that includes a ballot for industrial action for his reinstatement.

The treatment that Omer has been subjected to is shameful.

Jerry Hicks went on to say "How can we allow one of our best activists to be isolated, victimised, sacked and then left with minimal financial support and no official ballot for action. If elected as General Secretary defending the union and our representatives would be an absolute priory".