News
Axe hangs over B&T as Dolan claims 'economic vandalism'
Mike Dolan has threatened to close Butler and Tanner (B&T) if a strike planned for next Wednesday goes ahead.
As revealed in PrintWeek last week, Dolan organised an unofficial second ballot after accusing the union of "election fraud" in an initial vote for action last Tuesday (15 April). The first, and only official, ballot revealed an overwhelming majority of union members (92%) had voted in favour of strike action.
However, Dolan said that without the proposed changes, the company is not financially viable and he will not invest funds, estimated at £1m, required for B&T to stay afloat.
He said that, should the strike go ahead, B&T will be placed into liquidation. He added the company's assets outstripped its debt and that suppliers and creditors would receive payment in full.
Unite national officer Ann Field would not comment on Dolan's threat to close the company, but called for the continuation of negotiations with ACAS, which has been called in to mediate on the increasingly bitter dispute.
She said: "Industrial action is scheduled to go ahead. We are not prepared to involve ourselves in predictions of what will and will not happen in the future outside that."
Practices that Dolan is looking to change include a rule whereby, should a skilled worker be required for overtime, the other staff at the same level must be offered a proportion of that overtime or payment in lieu. As a result, Dolan said, B&T can end up paying for 140 hours of overtime when only eight is required.
Field argues that the issues involved were much wider. "This is a silly detail that is too complicated to explain in detail and a misrepresentation of what the dispute is about," she said. "Essentially what the company currently wants, in addition to probably £1m cuts in terms and conditions, is for people working at night, if they do any overtime, to be paid double day rate and not night rate.
"We have been negotiating in relation to cuts in pay and conditions, alterations in shift patterns, reduction in staffing levels, changes in holiday pay and meal breaks, the introduction of time in lieu scheme rather than cash paid overtime and widening flexible working. This is what we’re talking about, they are dramatic cuts by anyone standards. What the company now wants is a legally binding agreement with no recognition of existing agreements including the National Agreement, and no union is going to agree to this."
As reported last week, B&T has claimed it has taken legal action against Unite, challenging its 92% vote in favour of industrial action. Dolan organised an unofficial ballot of all employees and found that only 54% of Unite members voted in favour of a strike while 100% of non-members voted against.
Dolan said: "It is a tragic state of affairs where slightly more than one third of the workforce voted in favour of a strike which if carried out, will close down the business."
He accused the union of "economic vandalism on a grand scale" and said it should be "held to account by its members when they line up on the dole queue".
However, Field dismissed the second unofficial ballot as "clearly nonsense" and said it was boycotted by vast majority of union members. "It's a massive distortion to claim that less than a third of staff voted to go on strike," she added.
The union also responded angrily to the accusation of 'election fraud' in the official ballot. "The accusation is wholly without foundation," said Field.
B&T DISPUTE TIMELINE
Autumn 2007 changes to working practice proposed
March 2008 negotiations over changes break down; Unite goes public on case
10 April local vote contested by MPI; police called in
15 April strike called following ballot
22 April Dolan threatens closure if strike goes ahead
Dolan: “tragic state of affairs”
Comments
The Mighty wind - 24 April 2008
" Dolan said, B&T can end up paying for 140 hours of overtime when only eight is required"
Ah the rise and fall of the classic red herring
Wilf Brammel - 24 April 2008
Once again the unions step in and muddy the water. The employees need to kick the unions in to touch as they always cause hassle. If the union continues and the company close the Union officials will still have a job.......bear that mind.
Good luck Mike !
Andy Cornell - 24 April 2008
A concerned non-union employee
Gary Butler - 24 April 2008
The fight should be with overseas book printers in particular those in the Far East. Let common sense provail. Brinkmanship it may be but don't undermine confidence with either your customers, suppliers or the British book printing industry.
Andrew Dalton - 24 April 2008
I should say before I comment, I don't know Mike Dolan or any of the Unite officers refered to, So my comments are not biased or about the specifics of the dispute or about union representation.
Having recently gone through simular challenges at one of our plants I can see the problems facing both the company and the employees. the company has to adapt to suit the current market conditions otherwise it won't have a future, if the current management are making changes to improve the competitiveness of the plant in these tough times then I would assume they are looking at a whole raft of issues to improve. the most sensitive of all these will always be Individuals remuneration and associated terms/conditions. Once these issues are on the table emotions play a huge part in the way people vote/act. Brinkmanship/negotiations/intimidatation/propaganda/bullying, these are all words that get used. Since Mike Dolan is employed to act in the best interests of all the Stakeholders-thats shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers alike, I would urge the employees to take him at his word, I feel sure any reasonable honest employer would not act in a way that risks jeapordising the business or some of its employees benefits unless its justified.
Most employees dont get to hear, see or witness the daily challenges of commercial pressure which has accelerated in recent years, and the different demands that customers require to satisfy their markets, if they did I feel sure if they valued secure continued emplyment then they would reverse their current decision for taking action. Unfortunately changing markets, downward pressure on prices and increased expectations on quality and service coupled with external hikes in prices for consumeables, paper, electricity, bacon sandwiches etc means the company represented by Mike have to adapt their cost base to survive. It might hurt to personally give up something you have enjoyed for some time, but its a small price to pay for future security. I have unfortunately had the miss pleasure of standing up in front of three print related workforces in the past decade to announce closures. prior to announcements most were asked to help by either taking a cut or having some terms altered that were now not relevent in todays markets nothing was offered and all managements proposals rejected. Still to this day I remember the comments made by representatives (some in tears)within hours of the formal announcement of closure, 'can we meet and agree to your previous proposals of cuts', too late the customers move on very quickly when they think that their deliveries might be affected.
I hope B&T survives, but it will only do that if management and employees alike are open to change and willing to take some pain. If you believe in Mike and his Management team then withdraw your proposed action.
Andrew Dalton
Chief Executive, Pindar
meer kat - 24 April 2008
Dont know what planet mike dolan comes from!theres an incredible offer from the union on the table yet he wants the union to sign all there employees rights away whats this chairman on?i really think he ought to resign cause he aint mentally stable to run a company!i wonder if his shareholders really know whats going on cause he clearly aint gotta clue!surely one man aint bigger than a company!
BT Meatman - 24 April 2008
I cant believe where this man is coming from, hes talking about economic vandalism when it is him who has done the vandalism by not paying any of the suppliers so therefore there is no materials.It just looks like every time there is a very good offer (which any normal person would no hesitate to take) then he throws yet another proposal in at the end just as it looks like there is a deal to be done, but he knows dam well the members will not go for. How can B&T'S get materials off anyone when Mike Dolan has decided to run the company into the ground and has no intentions of getting the company back on its feet. You must come back to earth Mr Dolan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stuart North - 24 April 2008
I am the senior union rep at Butler and Tanner and have been involved with almost all of the meetings with Mr Dolan including the recent ACAS meetings in Bristol. Interesting to read some of the comments and opinions, but I would rather mention facts, and then give my opinion from first hand experience.
Firstly the union reps at the company are also employees and stand to lose their jobs as well, but we know we have acted in the best interests of our members. We are realistic, accept the problems within the industry and we are even prepared to recommend massive cuts and changes to terms and conditions, if we thought that would save our members jobs, or that our jobs would be worth having under Mike Dolan's MPI.
The real problem at Butler and Tanner now is Mike Dolan himself and the way he has conducted the business. Morale at the company has been damaged beyond repair by bad management,a lack of investment and maintenance of machinery, constant threats of closure, compulsory redundancies, and numerous threats to impose changes to terms and conditions without negotiation. And all this after information was leaked regarding certain managers and directors having large pay rises!
Worse still Mike Dolan is attempting to bully through an inappropriate, legally binding, commercial style agreement which will allow him to sue our members. It fails to honour past agreements (local and national) and destroys our members rights in the future. I am talking about rights such as information and consultation or even recognition.
The union have tried to reach an agreement at ACAS this week but both sides need to turn up and be willing to seek a resolution. The union have now offered all of the savings Mr Dolan was demanding but they need to be drawn up as a collective agreement which we have offered to do. We certainly can't allow our members or the union to be sued by Dolan and we have made that clear from the start.
I received a telephone call this morning from Mike Dolan who offered to buy our union rights away. We will be politely declining that offer as that really would give a dictator a free reign.
phil horler - 24 April 2008
I totally agree with all Stuart Norths comments. Dolan is a dictator and has no intention of saving the company. Wilf Brammel is entitled to his opinion but knows none of the facts so should remain quiet. What most of the staff at B&T'S think of Dolan is unprintable. We all believed that Dolan was our saviour but now after all he has done (failed promises) we all wish he continued to manage Bucks Fizz!!!
Phil Horler (fellow Butler& Tanner Union Rep)
ian fench - 25 April 2008
DOLAN, future employees beware !!!!
this dictator will squeeze every drop of blood out of your body, he is an asset stripper ruining people's lives without flinching. when the firm closes let's hope he and his fellow millionaires pay redundancy not the government funded by the tax payer.
Natasha Porter - 25 April 2008
This is ridiculous! What seems like a simple negotiation between grown men/women, has been twisted and twisted until meanings of words mean nothing at all.
Lets all hope and pray that our jobs have not been sacrificed by those of which do not even work here!
steve womac - 25 April 2008
Whats the relevance of bacon sandwiches?
Jon Fennell - 25 April 2008
Its a case of is he (Dolan) bluffing or not.
I suspect hes not.
The question is how long can B&T survive with the investment.
Currently from the outside its a double whammy. Commercially its tough and hard to hold clients, let alone increase new business. The current situation is doing nothing for B&T's forward growth, as client's will walk rather than risk damaging their own business, this makes any re investment pointless.
The writing's on the wall, nobody will win this apart from other stable print businesses picking up current B&T business and any prospective clients it may have.
Double daytime rate sounds far better than the dole.
This is a wrong battle at the wrong time, if the membership feels so wronged and its so easy to get work with other employers WALK.
Concerned Employee - 25 April 2008
Well said Jon Fennell! If you feel that you can get a better job in Frome with the flexibilty that you get at B&T WALK!
We all know that B&T has the chance to get back to where is was so please think carefully about what you are doing.
Mike is not bluffing.
Ria Weatherall - 25 April 2008
I think Mr Dolan needs to wake up,how many employees worldwide would go to work with the threat of losing their property through being sued by making a mistake?
How many of the day staff,working in the offices,would be happy to be told that they had to work 12hr night shifts over a weekend?Not many of them i feel!
He wants to dictate to people what he wants them to work,and you have no choice in the matter.
I believe what you wanted to save the union has offered you more and you still put something so ridiculous into the agreement knowing that the union and its members will not accept.
Go back to music and leave the right people in charge to make B&Ts a success that we know it can be,and then reap the benefits!
Stuart North - 25 April 2008
In response to the concerned employee?? and the other twit who is asking employees to WALK. That is exactly the attitude of some ignorant employers and management bullies who have no respect for employees legal rights. The "if you don't like it theres the door" attitude is used commonly by bullies and that is why people decide to join a trade union that will tackle the bully. Mind you some employees think that the "kiss butt method" serves them better until it fails and then they have no option but to WALK. Why don't you reveal yourself concerned employee????
meer kat - 25 April 2008
I sent mr dolan a constructive email as follows:Dear mr dolan,this crazy situation has to be sorted quickly before a company with massive potential is gone!Theres an unbelievable offer on the table from the union which any employer would snap there hands off for!but everytime progress is made another spanner is chucked in whats that all about?im afraid that you blame the union who are bending over backwards to end this dispute,but its you thats scuppering any deal and damaging the reputation of b and ts and making us a laughing stock!I think if you were truthful to yourself from your heart and looked at this situation from an employees perspective youd take the same view and want your rights protected!is this i fear not a matter of money but control and power!i think the question is one man bigger than the company?i hope not!HERES THE REPLY:THE ANSWER IS QUITE SIMPLE.HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER CALLS THE TUNE AND IF THE PIPER DOES NOT WISH TO PLAY THE REQUIRED TUNE,HE CAN TAKE HIS TALENTS ELSEWHERE AND PROSPER AS HE MAY.HOWEVER,HE SHOULD NOT TRY TO TAKE THE PIPERS MONEY WITH HIM NOR SHOULD HE DESTROY THE PIPERS HOUSE IN THE PROCESS,WHICH IS WHAT THE UNION AT FROME ARE IN THE ADVANCED STAGES OF DOING.
BT Meatman - 25 April 2008
I cant believe that Dolan thinks that is a professional way to answer such a sensible email then it just proves hes not taking it serious. He wanted to save money so why the hell get Jeff Heyes in on £XXXXXXXX then not let him do what Dolan says he can do. How can the man turn the company around if hes not allowed to do a thing without the say so of Dolan how much of a waste of money is that well done Mike!!! We only got to look what happened to Bucks Fizz !!!! Why have managers and office staff cleared their offices ?? Come on Mike havent you got the balls to come clean and tell us you had no intention of keeping the place going and was just going to run the place in the ground. Mpi have got a real diamond.Are the shareholders and financial backers deaf and dumb??
phil horler - 25 April 2008
To all concerned employees we have no doubt that Mike Dolan is not bluffing. I attended ACAS meetings and strike or not the guy has no intention of saving B&T'S. I will lose my job aswell but why should i be forced to 'WALK' byMike Dolan, he has made our lives misery for the past 3 months. Most of us are strong, but to you who are not, continue to kiss Arse and listen to false propagana. Then end up losing your job the same as the rest of us. If we sell our union rights away then forced to work any hours he says how many of you will be happy to do that for peanuts??? Speak up???
Stuart North - 25 April 2008
The answer is quite simple if you're as nutty as a squirrel turd.
meer kat - 25 April 2008
DOLAN OUT
phil horler - 25 April 2008
I thought that MPI was going to save B&T'S but it looks like they shouldve let CPI take over at least they tell you to face to face how it is,and dont lie just to get you on their side. Dolan stood up and told everyone that he was going to turn it all round but why lie to everyone then turn on the employees who have only stuck up for thier rights, if we all gave in at the first hurdle who knows we couldve been shut 3months ago!!!!!!!!!!!!
meer kat - 25 April 2008
As an ex cpi employee i totally agree i thought we were hard done by,but nothing compared to this it was quick and blunt!this has been mental torture which dolan should be made accountable for if he does close it.
BT Meatman - 25 April 2008
I can imagine Jeff Heyes is well cheesed off with all of this being brought in under false pretenses the way Dolan described him you would of thought he was next best thing to superman. Maybe B&T'S should bring in Batman and Robin to sort out this bloody riddler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This aint gona look good on either Jeff or Mikes CV
OH DEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
meer kat - 25 April 2008
DOES ANYONE KNOW THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR WATCHDOG OR ROGUE TRADERS?
Stuart North - 25 April 2008
Perhaps we should keep our comments to a reasonable level. If we drop too low and unprofessional or become dishonest we could be in danger of acting half as bad as our chairman.
phil horler - 25 April 2008
What you on about meatman batman and robin ?we already got Delboy Dolan and Rodney Heyes.And look where thats got us!
Ian Humphreys - 25 April 2008
Mugabe,Hitler,Stalin & Dolan,
spot the difference? no neither can I. We live in the 21st century what happened to democratic negotiation? Dolan needs to get it into his head bullying and harrassment and slanderous lies belies his true nature. We all know the writing is on the wall but we as union members can hold our heads high while facing misery the loss of our livelihoods and an uncertain future while Dolan sleeps soundly in his bed.
As previously written lets all hope he has to cough up redundancy payments not the government!
Stuart North - 26 April 2008
On a more serious note, after letting off some steam, people like Mike Dolan need to realise that there are a lot of good people at Butler and Tanner. The potential for a sound business, to succeed for everyone involved, and not for just an impatient greedy individual at the top who screws virtually everyone else and trys to take all. Mr Dolan has put his Midas gloves on inside out and has turned B&T's into sh.t with his unique style. MPI and Mike Dolan have been a disaster at Butler and Tanner and have failed miserably.
Whether union members or not, nobody likes a bully and some people can't be bought, bribed or give up sound principles even if it means losing their jobs to defend themselves against an oppressor.
On the other hand if employees are informed and consulted, and treated with a degree of respect they can be very reasonable and understanding and will willingly take necessary cuts. Not much to ask really is it?
Mike Dolan has acted like a spoilt child and a fool. He continues on with a battle which could eventually ruin his reputation and his whole MPI group. Instead of picking a fight with the employees and the countries biggest union, making ridiculous statements and false accusations in the press he should of been acting like a responsible chairman and making shrewd business decisions whilst keeping the workers on side.
We believe this is possible as we have seen, if only briefly, what a more respectable chairman (Andrew Hillman) accomplished, in a short space of time, but it takes a smarter different approach which clearly Dolan has been unable to grasp.
phil horler - 26 April 2008
Well done Mike yet another letter just a little note to tell evryone they are out of a job why do it through the post how gutless is that cant even face the people you have lied to all this time. Whats the un-official go slow all about then please tell us might have something to do with the lack of materials so each job couldnt be completed ever thought of that ?? Come on Mike give us credit whenever the materials have been there the jobs have gone out on time. You didnt want the place to continue running all along.I bet you were bullied at school and want revenge on innocent hard working skilled tradesmen. Were you the one who took your bat and ball home whenever you were out at cricket or the last to be picked when picking teams??? Why cant you just tell the truth for once.
Once again WELL DONE MIKE!!
lewis walker - 26 April 2008
shambles! future companies....please beware of the mpi dictatorship! run for your lives!!!!!
Kevin Newport - 26 April 2008
Having just been made redundant along with my partner from Wiltshire (Bristol), part of the TM Group, I was feeling a bit sorry for my-self, but at least we were treated well right up to the day we left. I applied for a job at B&T, but didn't follow it through (Lucky escape). I have to tell you people that you've done the right thing, just beacuse our industry is having a hard time doesn't mean that the bosses can ridr roughshod over the worker. so as sad as it is that you've lost your jobs, you've done the right thing.
wolf maluchha - 26 April 2008
If B&T closes where the the workforce get jobs? Or are they looking to retire?
phil horler - 26 April 2008
I hope your happy now you got your own way, you never wanted to keep it going anyway all the lies and promises. That day up the caxton club when you said all these lies to all employees, and made everyone feel like we had a bright futurehow mistaken we all were, you are really low and gutless, why not come clean and be straight to the point, How can people "earn more money than they ever have" when you want pay cuts etc etc etc. Whats our next letter going to be a new contract for a new company doing the same job??? At least you can go back to MPI and say 'a job well done its all sorted now'. I hope any future employees take note of what you have done to this good work force and company (B&T'S). I bet you love every minute of it. Maybe you should call another meeting to let us have our say and let you know how we all feel because it cant be printed on here. Come on be a man MIKE but we all know your not. Cheers
alex Horne - 26 April 2008
CONGRATULATIONS- Well done to those who should be blamed. Butler & Tanner an icon in the Industry, the last of the big book printers in Britain, what a waste of talented and skilled staff not to mention the impact on the area and Industry itself. We all know the Industry is tough and changes had to be made, changes were willing to be made but for an agreement you need two parties who want to make it work.
Call me cynical but this was clearly not the case - what a mistake.
michael hewson - 26 April 2008
what a sad day i did try and send mpi an email to tell them how dolan raped our company but it failed i know i can hold my head high and sleep well along with stu [north] dolan will be going to hell
BT Meatman - 29 April 2008
Hello Mike why dont you come to the meeting today you will be very welcome,to tell us first hand for your actions im sure you can stand up and talk a load of rubbish, oh yes you can you done it up the caxton club silly me. Im sure if i stole money from someone i would be locked up so hopefully this will happen to you real soon. How do you sleep at night??? If your around pop down for a burger im sure you will be welcomed and treated kindly some people have forgot what you look like. Thanks again
zzzzz zzzzz - 30 April 2008
smh
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