Tribunal hears of plot to get rid of official

A tribunal heard this week that Doncaster College principal Terry Ashurst confided his plans to get rid of a troublesome trade union official. An unfair dismissal claim has been brought by former sociology lecturer and branch secretary of lecturers' union Natfhe, John Giddins, who was made compulsorily redundant last year. The Sheffield tribunal heard from Michael Graham that during a chance overseas meeting Mr Ashurst spoke openly about a plot to isolate an unnamed troublesome leftwinger. Mr Ashurst told the tribunal he did not recall the conversation.

The dismissal was seen by some as punishment for Mr Giddins's prominent role in the four-year dispute over new contracts. The college denied these claims. The tribunal adjourned pending judgment in December.