Manchester College cuts off contact with UCU as staff vote for strike action
Article published: Saturday, June 12th 2010
Principal of The Manchester College (TMC) Peter Tavernor yesterday severed ties with the University and College Union (UCU), accusing the union of “underhand tactics” and trying to “agitate staff” in the row over contracts.
Manchester College Principal Peter Tavernor
On the same day as the union announced strike action against what it calls “worsening terms and conditions” of new contracts being imposed by the principalship, Tavernor posted an internal memo on the College intranet telling staff that TMC was “unilaterally withdrawing from the Trades Union Recognition Agreement” with UCU.
The UCU ballot, which ended on Friday 11 June yielded 68 per cent of members voting for strikes with 86 per cent calling for action short of strikes.
Employees have told MULE that TMC regards non-signing of the new contracts as tacit acceptance of the terms, and have complained of “bullying and intimidation by managers” during negotiations.
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “Our members don’t want to take strike action but have been left with little choice. Staff at Manchester perform a range of duties and teach a variety of people, they do not operate in separate silos. The disarray that will be created by this unworkable two-tier system will leave the college with potential discrimination and dismissal claims and consequently unable to defend itself in the face of likely government funding cuts. Nobody wants this. This situation can still be resolved.”
The decision by Tavernor – who has recently awarded himself and nine other members of the College’s management significant salary increases – to cut off ties with the union which represents the majority of TMC employees was supposedly taken in response to an advert taken out by UCU in the Manchester Evening News.
The principal is said to be thoroughly rattled by resistance among staff, and it is rumoured that even TMC’s management are now questioning his heavy-handed approach.
In his message to staff Tavernor called the advert “a direct and blatant attack on the reputation of The Manchester College” and accused the union of focusing “all attention on attacking the college in an unprofessional way, trying to agitate staff and misrepresent the facts.”
He continues: “Regardless of UCU’s behaviour, we have continued to attempt to engage effectively with the union, but these recent underhand tactics have clearly indicated that it is not going to be possible. I therefore want to let you know that the college is no longer prepared to continue to recognise UCU for the purpose of consultation and negotiation purposes.”
The College though has an extremely poor record with its staff and the management’s reputation in many quarters is one of belligerence and strident anti-unionism. That is not to mention high-profile investigations into claims of “institutional fraud” within TMC, which refused to go away after the College destroyed crucial documents and gagged would-be witnesses.
Employees this time round say they are being given an ultimatum and threatened with the sack if they refuse to sign. Despite Tavernor’s further statement that “within the core college more than 500 staff have already signed” MULE’s main source says that “many of those feel they have done so under duress and lodged accompanying letters of complaint.”
Hunt responded to Tavernor’s memo: “It is deeply regrettable that rather than focusing on a resolution, Manchester College management have chosen to de-recognise UCU, the chosen union of academic staff. I can assure people that our members will continue to seek a solution so that we can carry on providing first-class teaching to learners in Manchester.”
The new contracts are set to come into force on 1 August. The strikes are expected later this month and employees have vowed to continue the fight.
Andy Lockhart
More: Education, News, Unions and workplace
Comments
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If they are threatened with the sack and feel they have been forced to sign new contracts under duress then they should seek specialist legal advice from a lawyer who specialises in employment law as a contract signed under duress is arguably void. It’s a basic tenet of contract law.
Comment by Lulu on June 13, 2010 at 5:23 pm -
How has he got the nerve to call the union unprofessional? He needs to question his own morals and ethics before he criticizes others. Anyone who takes a 10% salary increase whilst his staff are losing their jobs is NOT fit to be a leader.
He has used every underhand tactic available and does not care about his staff – he just wants to get rid of 250 and bully the rest into accepting worse terms and conditions.
Now he is rattled because his greedy, unethical, sly tactics are failing and his poor management skills are being exposed. TMC’s reputation as an employer is in the gutter and he has put it there. I hope he is rattled when he reads this.
Comment by TMC Teacher on June 13, 2010 at 9:14 pm -
Surely the time has come for a vote of no confidence regarding this man’s ability to make rational and competent decisions.
Comment by mike on June 14, 2010 at 10:29 pm -
Any Free Democratic Society should actively promote Free Speech and publicly condemn anyone who doesn’t.
Who was it who said ‘I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it?
It’s a pity he isn’t here today to sort this fellow out!!!
Comment by F.M. Arouet on June 15, 2010 at 12:08 am -
Forget about complaining about this guy. He wants to reduce your pay by 20%? You want to take him to court for unfair dismissal? He’ll claim he was justified in reducing your pay – as an independent accountant can ‘prove’ there were ‘exceptional additional costs’ in taking on the additional prisons. You will never prove anything different.
Comment by Wooster on June 15, 2010 at 8:30 pm
A TMC Prison tutor. -
Cuts and the lack of understanding and care for the real interest of the department was amongst the reasons I resigned last year from the modern language dept. It is a sad and disappointing situation which I am hearing from ex colleagues and friends at The Manchester College. There does seem to be a lack of consultation between top management and lecturers and I do understand that they feel they have no choice but oppose decisions which will considerably undermine the quality of teaching and the welfare of staff
Comment by Ariane Lawson on June 15, 2010 at 9:44 pm -
It’s not about taking TMC to court, they’ve have been getting away with unfair dismissals for years…but only because this shameful behaviour was done out of the spotlight and away from the scrutiny of public opinion. The one thing that has kept this Principalship of Fools in their self regulated, highly paid positions (apart from one of them having a wife on the City Council and connections with the now defeated Labour Party), is their lack of transparency, which was allowed to go unchallenged until now. The numerous unfair dismissals since 2002 have been carried out behind relatively closed doors.
Something different is happening this time and their reign of terror is coming to self inflicted end. As a direct result of Tavernor’s crazed response to the advertisement taken out by UCU in the M.E.N, what’s being done by management at Manchester College has, for the first time, gone National, and through this webpage, worldwide – for all believers in Free Speech and Democracy to see. They’ve gone too far this time. By denouncing Free Speech they’ve committed a crime against Democracy in full view of the public and are now the subject the power of its scrutiny.
There have never before been so many people unified in a common cause, the preservation of Free Speech. Staff aren’t intimidated like before because Unity has given them strength. They are no longer afraid to speak out on sites like The Mule, Indymedia and Facebook etc. They know that the pen is mightier than the sword, and so do management. Take note of their irrational hysteria when their crimes were made public in the M.E.N. I sense the game is up for them now. They’ve finally been put into a great big spotlight and are trying to run out of it. The irony is that the more they run, the closer they get to the corner they will eventually be backed up into. It won’t be long before they’re saying; “If only we’d been a little less greedy, a little less brash, we’d still be laughing all the way to the bank.”
But at the end of all this I will still be left with the hauntingly comic memory of the stacked up copies of handouts which lay upon the staffroom table, trembling with pent-up angst, surrounded by angry whisps of green smoke and making a barely audible, low pitched, rumbling sound. Upon picking one up, my brain was filled with the inane, echoed ravings emanating from the page of Peter Tavernor’s ‘Internal Memo of Derecognition’; The document that forebode the sinking of the Principalship of Fools.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on June 15, 2010 at 11:51 pm -
There can be no excuse for the bullying, pressure tactics employed by the Principal, effective action to counter it is difficult but not impossible. I suggest every member of staff who is affected sends a letter to their MP raising their concerns – this can be done easily online via http://www.writetothem.com – 2 Manchester MP’s Graham Stringer and Tony Lloyd are meeting the principal this Friday 18/06 @ 10am to discuss this issue. Every contact with your MP will raise the pressure, don’t delay write today. The current government have talked at length about cuts and how we are all in this together, I believe that as a nation we can and will work together to address the financial crisis our country faces but only if the pain is seen to be felt by all except the vulnerable and needy. Peter Tavernor’s decision to cut his staff’s terms whilst increasing his own pay flies in the face of the collective principle of responsibility his act must not be allowed to stand. From a personal perspective I cannot see how a person who’s management technique appears to be based on those of the mid 1970’s can possibly be worth nearly £200,00.00 per annum.
The best way to combat this is through publicity by every means possible.P.S. It was Voltaire “M.L’Abbee I detest what you write but I would give my life to allow you to write it”
Comment by Rationalist on June 17, 2010 at 1:43 am -
TMC are an absloute disgrace to the profession.
Comment by Arthur on June 18, 2010 at 2:39 pm -
I was given a new role by the Manchester College and my line manager said to me “I don’t like to call this or see it as a demotion, its more of a revision of your role and regrading.
Comment by Matty on June 18, 2010 at 6:12 pm
20% less pay and three weeks holiday removed which we will not be compensated for seems like a demotion to me”.
We are scared to rock the boat as we have been made to feel lucky we have kept our jobs.
I am saddened by the fact that any goodwill amongst staff will definitely go. The working late and through lunch hours, the countless hours spent on the internet at home, the extra things you do to find students resources to name a few. I think when our duties and roles were reviewed they should have considered paying us for all the things not in our job description.
I think a lot of staff feel disheartened by UCU we wanted to take action alot sooner. Early in the year we wanted to write to our MP’s and were held back. Staff feel abandoned by the union and disrespected by the college management.
It is sad when staff working in a prison feel respected more by the prison staff and inmates than their management. -
I see a different scenario. Tavernor most likely has a fat pension waiting for him. He falls on his sword to pacify the union – the problem being that it was planned that way all along and he is replaced by someone even worse – and there’s plenty of choice, believe me.
Comment by Soft Southerner on June 18, 2010 at 6:21 pm -
The fight isn’t over yet, it’s only just begun. If you are among those staff who’ve been bullied, coerced or fooled into signing a contract, get someone to show you how to send a letter stating you believe that you signed the contract under duress and wish to retract your decision on that basis – ASAP!!
Don’t be cowed and give in to bullying. Once a bully gets you down he does his best to keep you down and continues to kick. What kind of life is that? It’s never too late to get up and fight back.
Join those of us who believe the preservation of Democracy, Free Speech, Dignity, Status and yes, the The Manchester College, is worth fighting for. We are many in number. Join our ranks so that together we can defeat this Tyranical cabal of overpaid dictators. Never again be afraid to hold your head up and claim your Democratic rights. Walk tall and be proud of your profession.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on June 18, 2010 at 10:07 pm -
And if you haven’t signed but your silence has been taken as a tacit agreement of the new contract?
Comment by JM on June 19, 2010 at 1:35 pm -
Lower managers do not all disagree with staff, and comments here. Senior management p1ss all over them too.
I can see prison education going back inside of the Home Office – who are none too impressed with TMC
Comment by A_TMC_Manager on June 19, 2010 at 4:21 pm -
This is an old trick whereby employers play on the ignorance of their employees.
Before it can be accepted that you have tacitly accepted, a reasonable period of time must have passed and it must be shown that you have taken no action during that period, thereby implying you have no objections. I think this period is 4 weeks but you can check this out for yourself or ask your Rep.
If you disagree with the audacity of the premise that you have tacitly accepted by not signing, write a letter to TMC making it known that you weren’t given the sufficient time by them to consider the proposed contract, was misled or wasn’t informed of the consequences of not signing etc. Show the letter to your Rep and demand that you be offered the opportunity to reconsider.
N.B. If you’re not in a Union, you’re on your own and at the mercy of your employer! I suggest you waste no time and join up as soon as you can. Do it now online, you’ll be welcomed with by colleagues with open arms. Remember, when up against a Tyrannical regime such as TMC, an individual is weak and powerless where a group of individuals is strong. More and more people are joining the fight every day. Join us and collectively we WILL defeat this Tyrant.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on June 20, 2010 at 10:45 am -
Arouet, It would be delightful, to think that everybody joining the union would affect the situation If only the Union in question did not appear to be downloading the legal advice it is giving to its members from the ACAS website or sending one of its senior members to a meeting who had not read the contract in question, you never know it might work. Group representation can work if it is managed effectively and proper resource is allocated to it. I understand the call to union members to lobby their MP has gone out today, a bit late really when many have been forced to sign already. If the action of the college is as illegal as it appears to be, how come a top employment lawyer was not been appointed months ago? Has the option of applying for an injunction to the relevant court been investigated? Tyrannical regimes tend to be quite clever in the way they operate, the trick generally is to get ahead of the game and not play catch up.
Comment by Rationalist on June 21, 2010 at 10:42 pm -
Just a suggestion. TMC are telling their staff that these cuts are being forced upon them by cuts in adult FE funding (these must have been imposed by the outgoing previous government given the time-scales involved) The union is implying the cuts are due to mismanagement of the prison education contract TMC took on. Has the union put in a properly constructed legally indisputable freedom of information request to the relevant government department?
Comment by Rationalist on June 21, 2010 at 10:59 pm -
tMC make a mockery of negotiations. Their plans for a quality education in prisons are undermined by their proposal to have 40% of lessons taught by supply staff with no security or contract. Why should this apartheid be tolerated and how could it possibly improve standards?
Comment by The highwayman on June 22, 2010 at 8:31 pm -
Despite the tight budgets the Principal has managed to find the money to award himself a 10% pay rise – £170,000 was obviously not enough for him to live on. Whilst David Cameron demonstrates true leadership behaviour by taking a pay cut the Principal of Manchester College follows the ‘fat cats’ by looking after himself and trampling all over his staff. This horrible man and his grubby ways needs to be exposed in the media. The Victorian management style at Manchester College is a disgrace and the Principal is fast losing support of all his staff – including Senior Managers.
In prisons there is extremely low morale and increasing chaos – staff being told their jobs are safe and then being told they are not safe, tutors losing jobs and cheaper ‘support staff’ may be replacing them.
Comment by BigEars on June 22, 2010 at 9:30 pm
What is happening in your prison? (Stay anonymous as College spies may be watching). -
Union officials (and unpaid members) have been and continue to be obstructed every step of the way by this smug, intransigent, anti-union management. During the 90 day Consultation Period TMC just paid lip service and ‘went through the motions’ like a clique of infuriating students who know exactly how far to go and what they can get away with without actually stepping over the mark.
OK, as in many battles in our history, which may I say have been won, mistakes have been made along the way but this is no time to highlight them. We are all understandably angry but we shouldn’t forget to focus our anger firmly at the source of our problems – those who plan to decimate adult education and our profession – as well as busting the union while they’re at it – not those who are trying to help us.
The more united we are the stronger we are. We MUST stick together. This is the most important issue in Trade Union history for many years. We are on the verge of witnessing the first in a line of greedy, unscrupulous employers and union busters – not only in the Education Sector – who are queuing up and eager to follow in TMC’s footsteps.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on June 22, 2010 at 10:24 pm -
This is the most important issue in Trade Union history for many years. We are on the verge of witnessing the first in a line of greedy, unscrupulous employers and union busters – not only in the Education Sector – who are queuing up and eager to follow in TMC’s footsteps.
By their actions, including their astonishing reaction to an advert posted by UCU in the Manchester Evening News and subsequent de-recognition of UCU, TMC have shown a characteristic contempt of due process and also Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, especially the part about freedom of thought and expression and the freedom to impart information and ideas.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on June 22, 2010 at 10:52 pm -
This is far more deep rooted than an issue about contract changes. I actually perceive some of the contract changes (ie changes to working hours) as fairly overt sex discrimination.
It is an undisputed fact that most childcare arrangements fall onto the shoulders of mothers in society. By changing working hours, holidays and increasing working hours the college has not taken childcare needs into account. When confronted by someone who says it looks like they cannot continue in their job due to the changes, the college just say there is “no negotiation”. It is particularly pertinent that some people were actually on flexible working contracts before the arrival of these new and contentious contracts. This is both immoral and illegal. They should have undertaken an assessment of how the changes would affect the workforce, as a whole, before instigating the said changes.
I can’t understand how they get away with this when it actually contravenes government policy.
I remain hopeful that the bubble will burst at some point for the people making these decisions with very little regard for staff, let alone students.
Lovely new canteen at Northenden though. They must be very proud.
Comment by Bigbrotherfan on June 22, 2010 at 11:00 pm -
Dont forget Tavernor is comfortable in the knowledge that he has the support of friends, governors and local councillors, if only by their silence, apathy and ability to turn a blind eye, all Labour Party members.
Comment by JM on June 26, 2010 at 7:51 pm
This brings disgrace and embarrassment to the Labour Party.
The union asks us so speak to our MP’s – not likely!!! -
And now we have new revised pay scales in the Autumn.
A 10% pay cut for experienced staff has been suggested. 10% – a popular figure!
Comment by JC on June 26, 2010 at 7:57 pm -
I suggest everyone still write to their MP (You can do this by clicking the link at the bottom of the page) and everyone else who you think may have views on this outrage at TMC.
We have to get it all out into the open. We can’t do this just by talking between ourselves. Without transparency there can be no accountability and you end up with Dictatorship.
I wrote to my Labour MP and got a response agreeing with my views and that he had written to the Minister for Justice, Kenneth Clarke.
If your MP is the kind of MP referred to by JM, he won’t like putting things in writing but if he doesn’t respond you may have grounds for an official complaint against him.
When faced with the possibility of personal scrutiny and loyalty to Taverner I wonder which way he will turn.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on June 27, 2010 at 10:56 am -
My local Labour councillor is Tavernor’s wife!
Comment by jackie on June 27, 2010 at 12:49 pm -
There’s another Labour vote lost in the next Council elections then. And every vote counts.
This issue transcends party loyalties. Make sure she doesn’t get in again. Spread the word. Get in touch with one of the other parties and ask for their support.
This way you may even see some debate in the Council Chambers.
People Power does work. Get all your friends to contact non-Labour Councilors.
Find out who your city councilors are by clicking on the link below and let them all know what’s going on in your beautiful city.
PLEASE, DO IT ASAP!
Comment by L.M. Arouet on June 27, 2010 at 3:06 pm -
Tavernor thinks he has nothing to fear – but he has! When OFSTED come to inpect the college sites, including 80+ prisons, he will find that staff goodwill no longer exists and all the extra effort required to get a good grade won’t be forthcoming. He has plenty to be afraid of but he hasn’t got the brains to think ahead!
Comment by Inspections rely on teaching staff. on June 28, 2010 at 8:31 pm -
I concur with Jackie. In my constituency of Moston there are three councillors – one is Tavernor’s wife and another is Tavernor’s good friend. Peter Tavernor is godfather to one of his daughters.
Comment by tilly on June 28, 2010 at 9:04 pm
The same daughter enjoys a senior position at the college. -
[…] The motion for strike action was passed on 11 June. UCU, which represents teaching staff at TMC, says it is fighting against the strict imposition of new contracts, which employees say are “unnecessary and unworkable” and will worsen working conditions and quality of teaching, and against the principal’s de-recognition of UCU. […]
Pingback by Manchester College staff strike back — MULE on July 2, 2010 at 9:07 am -
I urge all TMC employees to ask their MP to sign Gordon Henderson MP Early Day Motion 382 which cites dismay at the treatment of staff by TMC.
We in the South East are all being bullied and intimated to sign contracts and blackmailed into signing the contract now so that we can keep our current salary for a year.
Comment by Miss Bullied Miss Intimidated and Miss Bribed on July 3, 2010 at 9:37 am -
Peter Tavernor should be embarrassed and hand in his title; How can the Largest College in Europe be the worst college to work for. I value and work hard for the learners at this college, what a shame the community do not see behind the scenes not sure they would send their children there>>> SHAME on you Peter and your Management.
very beated but not down!
Comment by beaten but not down!! on July 4, 2010 at 12:33 pm -
Peter Tavenor, YouTube star. The comment at 1m 18s is particularly rich.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ70Hb0sp1A
This has the odd resonant phrase too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e0KsYcragM
Watch and weep.
Comment by Ag.hast on July 12, 2010 at 10:29 pm -
[…] was “unilaterally withdrawing from the Trades Union Recognition Agreement” with UCU. Read More RECOMMENDED BOOKS REVIEWS AND OPINIONS Notice of Immediate Withdraw of […]
Pingback by Duress and Void Contracts - Topic Research, Trends and Surveys on July 18, 2010 at 12:18 am -
I agree with all the comments above. As an ex staff member I know there is an ingrained culture of bullying and no one dares to put their heads above the parapet. Peter is shielded from certain things by certain members of the principalship, who are particularly close to him.
His outbursts of temper are renowned, this sets everyone off in a panic, running around like headless chickens. Not a good way to behave if you want the support of staff through difficult times.
He bullys his close colleagues just like he does everyone else and it’s a shame because some of them are good guys and are really trying to make a difference.
You are also right when you say that he has the ear of local MP’s and I know that in the past he has threatened to call a previous PM when things weren’t going his way
Comment by Harvey Jones on August 11, 2010 at 9:59 am
The comments are closed.
