Halesowen College spurn union Valentine's Day strike claims (From Halesowen News)

Halesowen College spurn union Valentine's Day strike claims

4:20pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News

HALESOWEN College has rebuffed the advances of the University and College Union over its Valentine’s Day strike.

This morning over 70 union members picketed staff and students this morning and attempted to hand management a Valentine’s Day card with 12,000 signatures supporting the sacked Halesowen Four.

However, college principal Keith Bate has hit back claiming the union campaign has been giving out “misleading and false statements.”

Mr Bate said: “The majority of these protesters were not associated with the college, our records show that 13 staff are participating in strike action.

“We have some 300 teaching and management staff so this represents four per cent of staff.”

The college worked throughout the week to ensure there was the minimum of disruption to students.

Mr Bate added: “All classes have been registered and wherever possible all activities will be scheduled to operate as planned.”

College management again refused to back down on the sackings of the four lecturers, David Muritu, Jason White, Sarabjit Ahluwalia-Timmins and Rachel Griew.

Mr Bate said: “The outcome is that appeals against dismissal for those staff were not successful.

“They failed to show that the reason to dismiss them was unreasonable, namely their consistent failure to ensure that students fulfil their potential and achieve their expected levels of attainment despite significant support from the college over several years.“