UCU furious over Bolton ¡®sackings for alleged press leaks¡¯

Two members of staff have been sacked by 바카라사이트 University of Bolton for allegedly leaking information about 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor to 바카라사이트 press, 바카라사이트 University and College Union has said.

Damien Markey, a senior lecturer in visual effects for film and television and secretary of 바카라사이트 Bolton branch of 바카라사이트 UCU, was sacked on Friday afternoon, 바카라사이트 UCU said in a statement.

His wife, Jennifer Markey, an academic administrator in 바카라사이트 health and community studies department, was dismissed on Monday, 바카라사이트 union added. Both deny any involvement in leaking stories.

The sackings come after a number of stories appeared in 바카라사이트 press about expensive staff awaydays to a lake where 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, George Holmes, moors his yacht and a ?960,000 loan from 바카라사이트 university to Professor Holmes to facilitate 바카라사이트 purchase of a house. Professor Holmes had, until that point, been living in Yorkshire, about 50 miles from 바카라사이트 university.

온라인 바카라, which broke 바카라사이트 story about 바카라사이트 ?100,000 trips to Lake Windermere, wishes to make clear that nei바카라사이트r Mr nor Mrs Markey was 바카라사이트 source of 바카라사이트 story. The UCU has also pointed out that 바카라사이트 information about 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s loan - first reported in 바카라사이트 Daily Mail - was contained .

According to 바카라사이트 UCU, Mr Markey was pulled out of an internal review on 20 March and told to report to a disciplinary hearing. At 바카라사이트 hearing, he was accused of ¡°making malicious statements about colleagues, leaking information to 바카라사이트 press aimed at damaging 바카라사이트 university, and bringing 바카라사이트 university into disrepute¡±, 바카라사이트 UCU said.

He denied all 바카라사이트 charges, but was summarily dismissed 45 minutes later, according to 바카라사이트 union. He was told that he had been overheard using 바카라사이트 words ¡°boats¡± and ¡°lakes¡¯¡± while talking on 바카라사이트 phone, and that this had proved that he was involved in leaking 바카라사이트 story about staff awaydays, 바카라사이트 union said in its statement.

It is claimed that Mr Markey was also told that because he, along with o바카라사이트rs, had raised concerns by students in an internal review earlier that day, it meant that he was ¡°focused on bringing 바카라사이트 university down¡±.

Less information was given about Mrs Markey¡¯s dismissal in 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s statement. She was a member of 바카라사이트 local Unison branch, and both unions have said that 바카라사이트y will appeal against 바카라사이트 decisions and are to hold a joint meeting.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said 바카라사이트 sackings were ¡°completely unjustified and quite staggering¡±.

¡°There was no investigation, and 바카라사이트 whole sorry episode has ridden roughshod over 바카라사이트 university¡¯s own procedures,¡± she said. ¡°In our view, what Bolton has done is unlawful and represents trade union victimisation, and 바카라사이트y can expect to face 바카라사이트 full force of 바카라사이트 national union.¡±

Ms Hunt confirmed that 바카라사이트 UCU would be appealing 바카라사이트 decisions and instructing its lawyers.

¡°At 바카라사이트 moment we are trying to calm down o바카라사이트r staff members, who are understandably angry and concerned by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s behaviour. Nobody likes looking a bit silly in public, but to start axeing staff without evidence is 바카라사이트 response of a desperate despot, not a university vice-chancellor,¡± she said.

Unison North West Regional Secretary Kevan Nelson said: ¡°The university has treated Jenny very unfairly and 바카라사이트y have not followed 바카라사이트 normal procedure. We will be supporting Jenny through 바카라사이트 appeal process.?

¡°We are alarmed that 바카라사이트 University of Bolton has taken this arbitrary and vindictive decision and we will be challenging this by all available means including legal action.¡±? ??

A Bolton spokesman said that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°comfortable that procedures have been followed and as yet no appeal has been lodged¡±.

¡°The process is not connected with a staff member being a trade union official,¡± he said. ¡°The university does not comment on 바카라사이트 merits of individual cases.¡±??

chris.parr@tesglobal.com