GPTU supportive of action taken by UCU members at the College of North West London

17th January 2017. The Green Party Trade Union Group (GPTU) express solidarity with University College Union (UCU) members at the College of North West London College (CNWL) that 5 days ago voted for strike action over a planned merger with the City of Westminster College and over the suspension of their colleague, Indro Sen.

The plans to merge CNWL with City of Westminster College were first announced back in 2013. Despite CNWL saying it was consulting staff over the merger, several staff have been made redundant since, with no guarantees over current staff jobs and no guarantees that both current campuses will stay open. Indro Sen, Branch Secretary of UCU at CNWL and a vocal critic of the merger plans, was suspended back in October 2016 whilst representing a former CNWL employee at a tribunal.

A GPTU spokesperson has said “It is obvious that the reason the colleges are merging and staff are being made redundant is because of severe cuts to further education from, firstly the coalition, and now a Conservative majority government. Sadly this is happening all across the country and shows the callousness at the way the Tories are endangering young people’s future and education for all local communities. ”

“Whilst we understand the College is in a difficult position with funding cuts, we support strike action voted for by 95% of UCU members as they are doing all they can to protect the CNWL from going under.”

To find out how you can support UCU members involved in this action, please visit their website. https://www.ucu.org.uk/

http://gptu.greenparty.org.uk/2017/01/gptu-supportive-of-action-taken-by-ucu-members-at-the-college-of-north-west-london/

Staff at the College of North West London vote to strike

12th January 2017. Members of the University College Union (UCU) branch committee at the College of North West London, will stage a walkout following a ballot which saw 95 per cent voting in favour of industrial action.

CNWL, which has campuses in Wembley and Willesden, and union members are embroiled in a feud following the announcement of the merger with City of Westminster College, proposed redundancies and the suspension of Indra Sen, a maths teacher and UCU branch secretary.

The union claims the merger is being used as an excuse to make its members redundant and will lead to the closure of the college.

Mr Sen, an opponent of the merger plans, was suspended in October while representing a former CNWL employee in a personal capacity at an employment tribunal.

Mr Sen said: “This is a good result and goes to show members will no longer tolerate cover up of gross mismanagement of finance of government funding at the top to the detriment of our students, which I believe has led to this compulsory redundancy.

“Cover up of these irregularities through a rushed merger programme will be defeated by the staff, students and the community at large. We will stop CNWL closing through a merger once again.”

A CNWL spokesman said: “The college has and continues to act in accordance with its internal and external obligations, and strongly denies any suggestion that it has mismanaged funds or acted contrary to the best interests of its students.

The proposed merger with the City of Westminster College is aimed at growing the college and will not result in the college closing. The merger is being carefully and properly considered by the college.

For the avoidance of doubt, the merger is completely unrelated to the current industrial action. We cannot comment on Mr Sen’s suspension at the current time, but in common with the vast majority of further education colleges nationwide, the college has regrettably had to make a number of redundancies over recent years, including 20 proposed redundancies announced in 2016. These have been caused by a succession of funding changes and cuts made over several years.”

http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/staff_at_the_college_of_north_west_london_vote_to_strike_1_4846443

Greens call for immediate and full reinstatement of suspended lecturer Indro Sen

2nd December 2016. Peter Murry, Trade Union Liaison officer for the London Federation of Green Parties and for Brent Green Party has issued the following statement in support of Indro Sen, suspended by the management of the College of North West London:

As Trade Union Liaison Officer for the London Federation of Green Parties and for Brent Green Party, I was shocked to learn of the suspension of Indro Sen as a lecturer at the College of North West London. It is suggested that this is because of his strong opposition to a proposed merger with the City of Westminster College, and his support at an employment tribunal, of a sacked colleague’s claim of unfair dismissal and victimisation.

Both of these are actions are entirely proper for a University and College Union Branch Secretary to carry out. If Indro Sen’s suspension is a result of his performing the legitimate duties of a UCU Officer, then he himself seems to be threatened with unfair treatment and victimisation.

As a former Lecturer in the College and a retired member of UCU , I am saddened that the College, which provides a valued service to the communities of North West London., and Brent in particular, might bring itself into disrepute because of its treatment of Indro Sen. I am sure that members and supporters of the Green Party, UCU members , and the local communities will support my call for the immediate and full reinstatement of Indro Sen as a lecturer at the College and no further interference with his activities as UCU Branch Secretary.

http://wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/greens-call-for-immediate-and-full.html

Unions call for strike action as member suspended from Brent college

1st December 2016. The University College Union (UCU) branch committee at the College of NorthWest London, is balloting members in support of Indra Sen, a maths teacher and union branch secretary.

Mr Sen, an opponent of CNWL plans to merge with Westminster College, was suspended in October while representing a former CNWL employee at an employment tribunal.

Colin Purkey, branch chairman of the UCU, said: “The Branch has recommended escalating strike action to compel management to lift the suspension and threat of dismissal.

“We believe it is no coincidence that Sen was suspended just prior to the management of CNWL announcing its intention to merge with City of Westminster College.

Sen has defended us and our college over the years and now it is our turn to defend our Sen and defend our college.”

The Times reported the major outcry in 2013 when plans were announced for CNWL, which has campus’ in Wembley Park and Dudden Hill Lane, to be merged with The City of Westminster College.

Mr Sen said: “Regardless that I am suspended, if the merger goes ahead students will suffer. They will have to travel much further. This site will become an annex out of Westminster. This college has served this community for many years. It is so important for our students who come from such varied backgrounds. They need something like this. We can’t see its independence being surrendered.

A spokesman for CNWL said merger plans were back on track. He added: “Full statements were issued to staff about collaboration plans in October 2015 when they were first made, and regularly since. The proposal to work towards to a merger with City of Westminster College was made in October 2016 with open meetings and written communications provided to all staff.

“Both colleges’ governing bodies are working through the merger proposal and will finalise a decision on taking this forward in December, with a view to merger being completed in August 2017.

“The college did receive notification from UCU over an intention to ballot members on strike action regarding the suspension of Mr Sen.”

http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/education/unions_call_for_strike_action_as_member_suspended_from_brent_college_1_4800030