College axes 340 staff

NATFHE lashed out at principal Mike Austin after the shock announcement that 341 hourly-paid teachers are to get the axe - and must sign up with part time lecturers agency ELS to stand a chance of re-employment.

Union representatives say this will force lecturers to compete with hundreds of other candidates for jobs, take a drastic cut in pay and lose basic rights, such as pension schemes and redundancy pay-outs.

They are calling on members and non-members to attend an emergency meeting at 1pm tomorrow (Friday) in the main hall of the college's Sandy Lane site.

A NATFHE spokesman said: "We are appalled these jobs are at risk. The introduction of ELS attacks our most vulnerable and low-paid lecturers. "We urge them not to sign up with the agency - or at least wait until after the meeting, when they know the legal implications.

"It is sad that management made these decisions in the summer break, when staff are isolated."

Principal Mike Austin defended the decision, saying the use of ELS would provide good quality education.

He said: "We now have the choice of 800 staff who identified the college as where they want to work.

"For some staff, joining ELS is a way of enhancing their experience and boosting their income by working at other colleges."

He added: "Changes in employment legislation mean employers must redefine their relationship with part time staff.

"The lecturers' union has not understood our need to keep up-to-date with developments. We shall not offer work to to unregistered lecturers." ACCRINGTON and Rossendale College should be stripped of their Investors in People standard, say shell-shocked part time staff.

The disgusted 341 hourly-paid workers only found out they were being made redundant after the college had broken up for the summer.

One part time lecturer, said: "What a sick joke it is that the college proclaims itself an Investor In People. There seems little doubt that agencies such as ELS are set up with the specific purpose of making a quick buck out of part time workers.

"How many part timers will have already been panicked into signing up with the agency?"

Another part time lecturer said: "My three-year bond with the college is permanently severed. I feel let down and have no intentions of signing up with ELS.

"A year ago, in the Times education supplement, Mike Austin was quoted as saying these agencies would ruin education. He has changed his mind very quickly."

One lecturer, who had spent 11 years at the college, said: "Loyal part time staff are losing their jobs and full time staff are losing their colleagues - but it is the students who will lose most."

Local councillor Sheelagh Delaney said: "Forcing part time lecturers to sign up with agencies can only encourage them to fight to survive - not improve the standard of education."

Councillor Mike Parkinson, of Altham ward, said: "The transfer to ELS will worsen staff employment and conditions, leading to a reduction in the range and quality of courses."

Councillor Ken Curtis, of Central ward, said: "This is similar to what happened in the NHS. It always leads to an erosion of wages and conditions."

Great Harwood-based euro-MP Mike Hindley said: "I regret the transfer of part time staff to the agency and I hope it can be prevented. I will be supporting the union's actions." Union representatives say this will force lecturers to compete with hundreds of other candidates for jobs, take a drastic pay cut and lose basic rights, such as pension schemes and redundancy pay-outs.

They are calling on members and non-members to attend an emergency meeting at 1pm tomorrow (Friday) in the main hall of the college's Sandy Lane site.

A NATFHE spokesman said: "We are appalled these jobs are at risk. The introduction of ELS attacks our most vulnerable and low-paid lecturers. "We urge them not to sign up with the agency - or at least wait until after the meeting, when they know the legal implications.

"It is sad that management made these decisions in the summer break, when staff are isolated."

Principal Mike Austin defended the decision, saying the use of ELS would provide good quality education.

He said: "We now have the choice of 800 staff who identified the college as where they want to work.

"For some staff, joining ELS is a way of enhancing their experience and boosting their income by working at other colleges."

He added: "Changes in employment legislation mean employers must redefine their relationship with part-time staff.

"The lecturers' union has not understood our need to keep up-to-date with developments. We shall not offer work to to unregistered lecturers."

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