Unions call for strike action as member suspended from Brent college
10:10 01 December 2016
Indro Sen has been suspended from CNWL
Union chiefs at a Brent college are calling for strike action over the suspension of one of its members.
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.”
CNWL UCU calls for support
CNWL UCU calls for support
NO SUSPENSION NO
VICTIMISATION
DEFEND SEN AND DEFEND
GOOD MATHS TEACHING
|
Dear
Students
UCU
branch at the college is sorry to inform you that:
·
Sen, one of your favourite teacher, was suspended and
is threatened with dismissal from your College by Senior Management on 11
October 2016. Since then, Sen has been prevented from doing the thing he
loves the most: teaching maths
UCU Branch at CNWL believe that his suspension
and threatened dismissal is linked with
·
his strong opposition to our College closing
through a proposed merger with City and Westminster College. He led a
campaign in 2013 that successfully stopped our College closing down through a
merger with City of Westminster College
and
·
his support at an employment tribunal of a sacked
colleague’s claim of unfair dismissal and victimisation case against some
College Senior Managers
You
can show your support for Sen by:
1.
signing the ‘DEFEND SEN AND
DEFEND GOOD MATHS TEACHING”, petition.
2.
Using your LEARNER VOICE
power to get him back in the classroom where he belongs.
as he is missing his classes and
missing teaching maths
|
You will be shocked to hear Sen has been suspended and threatened with dismissal. See the press coverage below.
The branch believes the additional reasons for this desperate action are in the leaflets attached
We are in the process of organising a public meeting in January and will let you know the venue. Please indicate if you will be able to attend when we let you know the dates.
Also, any donations are welcome.
Regards
Colin Purkey on behalf of branch committee: Wapal Worrell, Colin Purkey, Bernie Driscoll, Angela McGrady, Shelley Bennet, Julia Collins, Julian Holt, Catherine Lemmon, Isabelle Rahman
Please send your messages of support for the branch to:
Messages of support to Sen at:
senkingsland@Hotmail.com
Messages of protest with copies to Colin.Purkey and senkingsland@hotmail.com to:
Andy.Cole@cnwl.ac.uk -- Principal
Judith.Williams@cnwl.ac.uk - chair of governors
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