UCU: Good and bad results for Carter and Carter - as college rejects privatisation

Thursday, 19, Apr 2007 12:00

Efforts by a private training provider to take over part of the teaching at a midlands college have been emphatically rejected by lecturers.

Carter and Carter, which announced record profits this week, had approached West Notts College in Mansfield, offering to set up in the college and transfer construction lecturing staff to the firm's employment.

The college arranged for a presentation to staff by Carter and Carter Group chief executive Philip Carter. After learning of union opposition to the transfer of staff Mr Carter stated that the deal could go ahead with present staff remaining in the college's employment, but offered no guarantees for new staff.

Amongst concerns, lecturers feared for their TPS (Teachers Pension Scheme) pensions as they would not be able to stay in the TPS if employed by a private company. Carter and Carter said they would set up a "mirror" pension scheme to protect lecturers' pensions. Lecturers were extremely suspicious of this both on cost grounds and having seen what the private sector has done to final salary pension schemes over the last few years.

In one of their largest union meetings in recent years members of the University and College Union (UCU) at West Notts voted unanimously against the proposal. Some UCU members who had previously worked for Carter and Carter told lecturers how they had left that company for better pay at the college Lecturers made clear their view that further education should be provided as a public service and not run at a profit for the benefit of shareholders.

College governors rejected any link up after hearing of staff opposition.

During the period of consultation UCU increased its membership, especially in areas of the college's work that might have transferred to Carter and Carter.

Russ Escritt, UCU East Midlands regional official said:

'We are grateful to the Principal and governors at West Notts College for consulting staff representatives and genuinely listening. They have heard a clear, united message that professional educators want education to be a public service run in the interest of students, not in the interests of shareholders of a private company.

'The Leitch report on skills has unnecessarily created a welcoming climate for private providers and thereby created uncertainty in the sector - a sector which is anyway outstripping targets and delivering improvements in quality. Private companies are looking at education for easy pickings, promising shareholders handsome returns. That can only be done by worsening pay and conditions and educational quality, whatever the promises.

'There is no case for privatisation and the staff at West Notts college have shown others how to respond.'

Ends

Notes:

Carter and Carter: The company describes its aims in education as 'to improve the skills of England’s young people and adults to world-class standards in partnership with the LSC and Government educational agenda.'

Carter & Carter Group plc this week announced interim results for the half-year ended 31 January 2007. Profit before tax increased by 25% to £3.8m (2006: £3.0m). Philip Carter said: 'With business spending over £20 billion on training per annum and the Government providing a further £10 billion of funding our market opportunity is substantial.'

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=200704160700518800U