Gordon has a point

GORDON HENDERSON MP

PRESS RELEASE

Dated 5th July 2010
Subject: Gordon hits out at “bullying” bosses

LOCAL MP. Gordon Henderson, has hit out at what he calls “bullying tactics” on behalf of the employer of local people who educate prisoners at the Sheppey Prison Cluster.

Mr Henderson has been so appalled by the tactics used by The Manchester College (TMC) that he has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament condemning TMC for trying to impose new contracts on staff which will see some offender educators lose thousands of pounds.

The EDM reads:

“That this House is dismayed at the actions of The Manchester College(TMC) in its dealings with staff working for the Offender Learning Directorate; notes that TMC is forcing long serving staff who teach in prisons to accept a reduction in salary of up to £7,500 per year, despite having assured them in a letter dated 9th April 2010 that no-one would lose any pay as a result of the proposed changes to their contracts; regrets that TMC has de-recognised the University and College Union (UCU); is concerned that the education of prisoners could be affected by any escalation in the dispute and urges TMC to agree to immediate talks with UCU in an effort to bring this dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.”

Mr Henderson said:

“This action by The Manchester College is quite reprehensible and such bullying tactics cannot be allowed to succeed.

“I am really concerned that this dispute will escalate causing disruption in our local prisons. I urge The Manchester College to sit down with UCU and negotiate a sensible solution to this problem.”
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