LOCAL union bosses have been flooded with calls from worried teachers and lecturers following the Citizen's exclusive tribunal story in which we revealed how four sacked lecturers put up thousands of pounds of their own cash to fight their unfair dismissal case against Preston College after union NATFHE refused to back them.

Now other teachers are worried they will be left out on a limb if they have a case to fight.

However, local representatives are urging members to keep calm. Branch secretary Bill Adams said: "We've had many queries asking why the lecturers were left to their own devices.

"But at a local level the union provided lots of administrative and emotional support.

"It even offered to fight the case for them when the main union didn't want to take the financial risk.

"We supported the case at every step

"We have just settled a new agreement with the college concerning contracts and disputes and hope to be entering a new era of industrial harmony and partnership with the college."

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