A CLASSROOM pay wrangle is seen by some as another nail in the adult education coffin.

Tutors were stunned when their £15 per hour rate was dropped to £9.

And Rita Goodwin, chairman of the local Community Students' Association, said the row boiled over in Atherton.

She said a tutor who agreed a £15 per hour contract was told her refusal to sign for a 40 per cent reduction in pay meant she had effectively resigned.

And when the tutor arrived late for a lecturers' meeting at Atherton Tech. it is claimed she was ordered out.

"She was banned from the campus," said Mrs Goodwin.

"College management are intimidating lecturers into signing new contracts. Some have done, some haven't. It is a divide and conquer situation.

"But if there aren't enough lecturers there will be no classes. Could this be management's way of getting rid of non-vocational classes?

"It's a nasty situation that is going to get worse."

And a group of worried students who battled to save doomed Tyldesley Centre have expressed renewed concerns.

Six of the campaigners contacted The Journal expressing their concerns.

Mrs M.H.Cant, J.Todhunter, F.Ellis, M.Gilbertson, G.Garvey, M.Fox, J.Haworth said:"Unfortunately the campaign failed.

"But you may also remember promises made by M.Murdin, Principal of Wigan & Leigh College, that "all" classes would be re-located and any equipment required would be provided.

"Ms Murdin has certainly not kept her promises - yes, classes were re-located, mostly in unsuitable rooms - no, required equipment was not supplied.

"We have had five weeks of classes and we have not had one item fired as there are no kilns on the site provided for us that are working properly. I understand the cookery classes had no cookers for two weeks.

"To add insult to injury letters have been sent to the tutors of Adult Education classes changing their status to instructors and reducing their salaries by 40% - this at a time of rumours about an increase in Ms Murdin's salary.

"Students and tutors are appalled at the state of affairs in Adult Education. Several students have already left - unable to cope with the conditions we currently have to work in.

"Letters of complaint have been sent to Ms Murdin and Chris Viney, but so far we have had no response.

"Is there a hidden agenda to close "all" Adult Education in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley?

"To the people of Atherton and Tyldesley - all the talk of Xanadu is irrelevant, we need to have our classes on a reliable and secure base so that tutors and students alike can plan their work.

"We are sending similar letters to Terry Lewis and David Blunkett at Westminster."

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