Farry tells NWRC to urgenty review labour relations

LEARNING Minister Dr Stephen Farry has told the North West Regional College (NWRC) Board of Governors to commission an independent review of disciplinary and redundancy procedures as a matter of urgency.

The Minister stated that he was aware of the “industrial relations situation” at the College.

SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether he was aware of the “industrial relations situation” at NWRC and whether he was considering carrying out an investigation into events at the college.

Dr Farry replied: “I am fully aware of the industrial relations situation at NWRC. As an incorporated statutory body, the college is responsible for all employment related matters including determining staffing complements, managing performance and staff discipline.

“However, I can confirm that I have asked the College’s Governing Body to instigate, as a matter of urgency, an independent review of the disciplinary and redundancy procedures at the college.”

It follows strong criticism by Mr Ramsey of the handling of labour relations at NWRC during a briefing from Colleges Northern Ireland on current issues in Further Education at the Stormont Employment and Learning (DEL) committee last month.

The SDLP MLA told the chair of NWRC’s Board of Governors Bertie Faulkner that he can be disappointed all he wants about criticisms levelled over the NWRC’s labour relations but if governance amounts to “bullying, intimidating and instilling fear into lecturers, there is something drastically wrong.”

In his capacity as chairperson of Colleges NI Mr Faulkner expressed disappointment to the committee over the SDLP representative’s comments.

“I was disappointed by what was said in the Assembly by the representative, but I will take it up at local level with that Member and we will discuss it. I remind the panel that there are five unions, and we have a problem with only one.

“I say ‘we, ’ and it may be my perception, but I want it on the record that I was extremely disappointed at the Member’s comments in the Assembly on Monday (June 27), ” Mr Faulkner told the committee.