NO SUSPENSION NO VICTIMISATION at the College of NW LONDON: DEFEND SEN AND DEFEND GOOD MATHS TEACHING

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. 3.     Sending him a MESSAGE OF SUPPORT at senkingsland@hotmail.com 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:

Colin.Purkey@cnwl.ac.uk

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

Unions call for strike action as member suspended from Brent college 

10:10 01 December 2016

Nathalie Raffray Kilburn Times

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.”

Caroline Lucas slams Government's Autumn Statement that shirks its responsibilities

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party co-leader and MP for Brighton Pavilion, has accused the Government of 'shirking its responsbilities' after today's Autumn Statement.

Lucas accused the Government of having 'deeply skewed priorities'. She said:

Britain is drifting towards the stormy and unchartered waters of brexit with ministers refusing to reveal the route, or properly adjust the sails according to the headwinds. We needed an Autumn statement which rose to the challenges of the day, but we see a government shirking its responsibilities, lacking any moral compass and leaving us dangerously exposed to both economic shocks and climate change.

This Autumn statement shows a Government with deeply skewed priorities. At a time of uncertainty they are continuing with plans to give a tax cut to corporations and the highest earners – while our NHS is strapped for cash and local services are under immense strain. We could save billions by scrapping the plans to cut corporate tax and raising the threshold for the highest earners – and we could plough that money into our ailing NHS – but the Government has refused to change course.

Lucas slammed the Chancellor for failing 'even mention climate change' in his speech. She said:

With Trump’s election this could have been a moment for Britain to become a world-leader in the fight against catastrophic climate change but, instead, we see little evidence of a commitment to facing up to the greatest challenge of our times. Indeed, it is shameful that the Chancellor failed to even mention climate change in his speech. By caving into the motor lobby and freezing fuel duty again for the seventh year in a row the Government has made a mockery of the fact that it is the hottest year on record and condemned us to more carbon emissions and deadly pollution.

A Government with a genuinely bold vision could have used this Autumn statement to ensure that the economy is future facing on everything from the risks of a potential Brexit to the threats posed by climate change and growing inequality. Instead we have a backwards looking budget that fails to wage war on poverty and fails to grasp the realities of an uncertain world and the limited resources in it. A serious response to the situation we’re in could, for example, have included a nationwide insulation scheme to keep people warm in their homes, cut bills and create jobs in every community. Or the Conservatives could have scrapped their plan to hand cash to corporations and high earners and instead give the NHS the funding it so desperately needs.

2016 Election- Is America sick?

The other day, I came across a very interesting viewpoint regarding the election of President Elect Trump. I thought it was a viewpoint worth exploring. Getting sick is a warning to the body that something needs to change otherwise there may be a fatal consequence. 

America obviously was seeking change through this election, as lets face it, neither candidates were ideal. What Trump seems to have given America, is a taste of what it's like to be out of their comfort zone. An average candidate, doesn't make make people think. Doesn't stir up any sort of emotional response, be it positive or negative. Maybe this outcome is what was needed to make America realise change is needed in order to progress, to make people think and want to act to change a previously broken system.

How much worse does it have to get before people notice that the way Brent council is run is the 'sickness' warning us change is needed?

Written by L.E.

Stand up for the Planet and against Trump this Friday evening US Embassy

From the Campaign Against Climate Change

There will be another demonstration against Donald Trump and his undermining of action on climate change this Friday 5.30pm to 7pm 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1

FACEBOOK EVENT

Climate scientists and experts around the world are warning that a Trump presidency could spell 'game over' for the climate. But activists in the US and around the world are lining up to fight for the planet and we will stand alongside them. Join us at the US embassy to send a clear message of solidarity and determination, find out more about the global climate struggle and plans for future action. Speakers tbc.

Read more:

Trump a disaster for planet Guardian  Vox Com


This is what Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas said after the presidential election: