Business
Dolan defends Butler and Tanner closure as staff demand answers with site picket
B&T owner Mike Dolan has claimed the strike threat sealed the fate of the troubled book printer, while redundant workers have begun a picket of the gates at the site in Frome, demanding answers as to when they will be paid.
Following the closure, chairman of B&T's owner Media & Print Investments (MPI), Mike Dolan, said he anticipates suppliers will receive payment, although he told BBC Somerset that workers "will be paid by the government".
Some 287 staff were made redundant by parent company MPI four days before payday, with many claiming they are also owed holiday and other annuity.
The action comes as details are emerging of the steps taken to close the company. Dolan said that ACAS and the Union were both 100% aware that the business would close if they did not settle the dispute and there was no realistic sign of that on the horizon by Friday.
He said: "We had a long scheduled MPI shareholders meeting late Friday which ran into the evening, where the shareholders needed to decide whether they were going to commit fresh funds to keep Butler & Tanner trading.
"Clearly the decision was made that, faced with a strike and with customers transferring their business overseas, there was no viable prospect of salvaging the business as a going concern."
However, Unite national officer Ann Field said: "The day before the place shut, he was telling ACAS by e-mail that he would be available for further talks at the weekend or this week. The dismissal letters must have been going out at the same time."
While Unite blames Dolan for the closure, he has claimed that an unofficial go slow had exacerbated the company's financial woes.
"We invested substantial funds and other businesses into the Frome site and had every intention of continuing to do so until the unofficial go slow caused output to fall to below 70% of the level it had been operating at.
"For example, BTP had orders for over £2m for April. It managed to output less than £650,000. Forward loadings for May, which were £2m when the strike was announced, had shrunk to £250,000, according to the figures we had at the shareholders meeting on Friday. There is no hidden agenda here," he added.
MPI had, according to Dolan, lined up a funding package, thought to total £1m, to invest in the business to keep it afloat. This funding was withdrawn following Unite's threat of action, Dolan said.
Details of the reasons behind the disagreement vary. Unite has told printweek.com that Dolan was pursuing an aggressive £1m cost reduction programme by reducing the amount of money paid for shifts and other economies and the breakdown came due to Dolan's refusal to abide by the National Agreement.
Dolan, however, has said that he was seeking to change the "archaic working practices" which rendered the business financially unviable.
He has pinned the blame for the closure on Unite for going public over private talks and claimed that the union cared more about its public perception than the employees at Frome.
Dolan has said staff will be 'paid by the government'
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Comments
BT Meatman - 29 April 2008
Just come clean Dolan tell us the truth you never had any intention of keeping the place going did you ??? Where the pension money ???? Sounds a bit dodgy to me my old china!! Please feel free to pop down to the picket line for hotdog or burger your more than welcome. Was it an april fools day joke that got out of hand???
Mark Hutton - 29 April 2008
over the years the b & t's staff and families have shared many good times. we have attended each others birthdays, weddings and other celebratons,bought gifts for new babies and retiring staff.seeing so many in town yesterday on their way to sign on - most for the first time ever- was sad but everyone had the same 'chin up 'attitude and support for each other.i wonder if mr dolan will have friends like that to support him when he has to visit the job shop. this is my personal oppinion ! gill hutton
cliff white - 29 April 2008
If the decision to close B&Ts was taken at a meeting that "ran into the evening", then how could the redundancy letters be written, a new email address for claiming personal belongings set up, and then the letters get posted - all in time for them to arrive the following morning? (Don't bother answering - I have my own opinion on this!)
What I would like to know is ... does anyone still have the envelope their letter came in? Is there a time on the postmark?
Judith White
reggie reynolds - 29 April 2008
how do you friary employees feel now -promises promises from dolan ....yeah right!!!. in my opinion there was only ever one intention on his mind and that was a seven letter word. CLOSURE. In my opinion i hope the authorities "throw the book(s) at him " no pun intended. keep smiling colleagues what goes around comes around . take care and see you all soon
Troubled Bystander - 29 April 2008
How do the Friary team feel? Incredibly sad for all the excellent staff they have had the privilege to work with, under exceedingly difficult circumstances for all. They can't help you, but wish you every success in securing what is rightly yours.When will management ever learn to listen to the people who actually do the job?
This did NOT need to happen.
ginger dyer - 29 April 2008
cliff i still have my envelope it was franked in bristol
at 7.05pm 25 - 4- 2008 keep the wood on the fire
see you on picket line
reggie reynolds - 29 April 2008
and Ill be there tomorrow evening keep me a burger or 2. how long before friary shuts ?any bets. my opinion soon . that letter was obviously drafted much much earlier surprise surprise
timothy lucas - 29 April 2008
TIM LUCAS. 29th APRIL 2008
I’m an ex B&T worker who worked there when Mr Joe Tanner (a true gentleman!) owned and ran the company in an orderly way (no lies or thetas or underhand actions) as my ex colleague Mr. Hutton has commented Birthdays. Weddings. And other Celebrations and many good times have been shared by staff and families. I think the name Dolan may go down in history as a latter day dick turpin to me the name Maxwell rings a bell
john peel - 29 April 2008
To all print and print finishers everywhere if a Charlatan named Dolan darkens your threshold then be afraid, be very afraid
mark hamblin - 29 April 2008
A sad day for many many good people ,,
something for you to ponder on mr trotter ,,,,, i mean dolan ,, you are intent on painting us [ the union members] as the villians of this piece''
the trade union has been present at coxton road for many a decade the gates have remaind open the workers have been paid....... you appear in your yellow van and nine months or so down the road hey presto no more b&t!!!!!!!!!! i,m sure the magic cirlcle would like to know how you managed that one////// well done mike your a real diamond x x x
BT Meatman - 29 April 2008
Here Here mark!! Im still trying to get my head round why the hell Dolan brought in so called superman Jeff Heyes what the hell did he do apart from walk round with his phone by his ear??? Dolan on the end of it telling him dont worry about anything i'll pay you loads of money if you come in tell the union what they want to hear then i will pull the rug from under them all ok mate hehehe. How nutty is that ?? Squirrels turds spring to mind
ginger dyer - 29 April 2008
simple answer to that one . when there is something fishy going on then you need a red herring !!! to distract from what your real attentions are.
Ian Humphreys - 29 April 2008
DOLAN THE VIKING:
The rape of B&T
The Pillage of the workforce
lies,lies and more lies see you in court
cliff white - 29 April 2008
I don't know what was going on with the National Insurance deductions, but on all Cliff's monthly pay slips, the total NI to date was showed as over £600 LESS than he'd actually paid during the year. So where's that money gone then?
Judith
reggie reynolds - 29 April 2008
no surprise there then that more of our money GONE .you cant and wont get away with this dolan and one day you wont. See you on picket line tomorrow night guys keep smiling .again well done everybody involved in union very sterling job lets keep fighting for what is rightfully ours and get result in end . this piece of literature was all my own opinion. keep smiling
meer kat - 29 April 2008
wonder if he'll turn up in court?shall we start taking bets?
BT Meatman - 29 April 2008
I'll have £5 says he wont be there mind you i aint got £5 cos bloody Dolan still got all my money GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!
jake jakester - 29 April 2008
Firstly i have never worked for B & T but i would like to offer my...(and i was going to use the word CON-DOLAN-ces) but i think that would be a tad crasse and in this instance those 2 words seem to go together maybe to easily. So, i'll just say 'regret' and the very best of luck to you all for the future.
I think and this is just my opinion, that the bigger picture needs to be looked into, in more depth "What has motivated this man to react & behave in the manner he has chosen". Usually in all these types of circumstances there is a reward, a prize, that at first, is not plain to see, especially to those most effected by the outcome.
My suggestion is, you all stick together, talk to each other, management, office and floor staff alike. The real reasons for his chosen actions, will be there..... maybe whispers, maybe something written down, you just have to dig deep enough to find them, good or bad. Untill now, I don't think any single person or organisation has had Mr Dolans FULL attention. Maybe someone is long over due a wake-up call.
So in signing off, may i wish you all the best. Each and everyone one of you "Spread your wings and learn to fly again!
brett mann - 30 April 2008
In my opinion like a lot of former B&Ts staff i think there has to be an ulterior motive for his sudden closure of the site. On the face of it, it appears he could not get his own way so he threw his toys out of the pram.
I cannot believe that the other shareholders were or are aware of how much the union had offered to give up and the financial suicide this narsisstic meglomaniac caused!
So now Mr Dolan the hall is rented, the orchestera engaged, now lets see if you can dance!
Mark Hutton - 30 April 2008
As more and more of Dolan's alleged crimes come to light the man has gone to ground.
Could there be any truth in the rumour that he made some capital from freeing up the land for development? I don't know but maybe the authorities should be looking into his activities as deeply as possible.
When we meet with our local M.P. Mr Heath we should all make this point very firmly!
Despite being the reason that we ended up in Dolan's hands i believe that Andrew Hillman made more advances with the business in his brief time in charge than "Monty" Dolan or Jeff "Smithers" Heyes could hope to - and on zero budget - because he treated the workforce like human beings.
He still keeps repeating his mantra of "the Union is to blame" as if saying it enough times will make it true.
I've tried saying "Mike Dolan has paid my wages" twenty times over but my bank account is still empty so his theory doesn't work.
john peel - 30 April 2008
The net is closing Dolan, just seen on the BBC News our MP, David Heath, raising the outrage in the House Of Commons, you were described as being like, "The owner of a Victorian Mill", well done David Heath
mark hamblin - 30 April 2008
the best thing that has come out of this whole disgusting farce. and it;s probably the one thing that sticks in dell boy dolans throat , is that we have all been shafted, treated like brainless morons, and lied to daily by letter and e-mail. but we all have our heads held high our dignity in-tackd and it looks like the wider community cheering our corner and most of all we are still UNITE-ed!!!!
well done to all keep it up see you at the picket line xxxxxxx
Allen King - 30 April 2008
After Dolan and now fellow director of MPI Andrew Hillman (home number 01761 490324) put the original Butler & Tanner into administration they promised on their web site all the suppliers would be paid. To date over 300 companies lost a total of over 5.4 million pounds, no one was ever paid!.
Now the same has happened again 9 months later, but this time not only will all the suppliers lose so will all you poor workers. I prey I will be wrong, but sadly no one is going to get a penny.
Dolan has in the eyes of many commited what has all the hallmarks of what used to be called a Long Firm Fraud. Where a company trades for 6 months to gain supplier confidence then obtains maximum credit from the suppliers, collects all the money that is due in from customers and then closes paying nobody.
A letter I recieved in March from the Administrator of the previous B&T states that Dolan only paid 184K for B&T this is the total sum of his massive investment that he is going on about,not much for a company that turns over 30 Million plus. That 184K included Stock, Work in progress and goodwill, everthing. He should have paid 619K but had not, He was being pursued for the money owing which would have been another reason for pulling the plug.
I like many, feel deeply worried for the staff at all the other of MPIs print companies. Mike Dolan and MPIs reputation is at rock bottom, nobody in the print industry can surely have any confidence left in him, so ultimatly his other print interest will sadly fail. The only hope for these companies will be for Dolan to sell them and get out of the print industry for good. Lets all hope that happens, but the remaining justice will be that he will always have to look over his shoulder.
Clive Upshall - 30 April 2008
Just going back to those letters, Clive's was postmarked at 6.40pm in Bath I think, but don't still have the envelope, but as they were all hand signed by Dolan, that was obviously all done prior to a meeting that ran into the evening! I would like to see the minutes of the meeting!
Linda Upshall
kba topdog kba topdog - 30 April 2008
EVEN DICK TURPIN WORE A MASK!!!!!!
steven fisher - 30 April 2008
I hear that Dolan is selling the assets of B&T to Myles Bunyard, God help us all .
cliff white - 30 April 2008
David Heath's speech can be seen here http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080429/debtext/80429-0004.htm#08042962000003
Andy Janes - 30 April 2008
Has anyone leaving comments ever run there own business ???? Its very hard out there and the print sector is going down fast, Im sure MPI and Dolan tried to save the business after the admin buts after coming out its very hard to save.
I would think that the shareholders have made a big lose with B and T
mark hamblin - 30 April 2008
dear mr james
GET A GRIP MAN
reggie reynolds - 30 April 2008
well done mr heath hopefully now something can get done to sort out dolan and in my opinion his crooks. maybe we should arrange a demonstration through the town and get the towns people on our side and keep us in the media spotlight.lets all keep our heads up and keep smiling. Ill see you on the picket line tonight. keep smiling
Allen King - 30 April 2008
To answer your question Andy Janes, yes I run a business in the print sector that lost 10 thousand pounds thanks to Dolans criminal activities.
Your right it is hard out there
why are you supporting him, whats your agenda?
meer kat - 30 April 2008
anyone with any flags please bring them to the picket line when they come,union jacks anything preferably no bristol rovers ones!ave it reggie!meerkats bringing his flag 2day kid!hope everyones ok!
meer kat - 30 April 2008
mr dolan the piper will come back to haunt you kid youve picked the wrong people to mess with here kid!
steven fisher - 30 April 2008
Just been told that Myles Bunyard has brought all the assets for B&T, who will work for him ?
ticking timebomb - 30 April 2008
yet again my thoughts get taken off! so much for freedom of speech
Clive Keeble - 30 April 2008
Does anybody know what experience Mike Dolan had in the print trade, pior to say 2003 ?
I have seen in one press report that Mike Dolan was believed to have made money in the record industry. The name 'Mike Dolan' appears in certain record company histories - there is nothing at this stage to suggest that they are one and the same person.
martin ford - 30 April 2008
just a thought but i expect dolan wanted to change our pay from weekly to monthly so the git would have a whole bloody months pay in his pocket rather than a weeks worth?????
cliff white - 30 April 2008
Clive, have a look here http://www.printweek.com/RSS/News/742331/Hitting-right-notes-business/
Judith
The Mighty wind - 30 April 2008
well I think Allen King has answered the question of why Dolan would not deal and closed the firm.
Parliament has denied a debate on Dolan so why not take your protest to the main polling station in the area for the local elections tomorrow, flags banners and all.
After all if Mohammed will not go to the mountain!!
kba topdog kba topdog - 30 April 2008
stand and deliver!!!!!! y dont we picket outside dolans mansion???
Gary Smith - 30 April 2008
Does seem like a strange transition to make - I can't believe he would take a business like B&T and Friary and various others he's bought over the last year and then do this without another agenda. Was the Friary and B&T sites owned by the group? Is it just a case of buying up strugling printers and asset stripping them for the kit, place any retained work with the other printers he has and sell the remaining kit and real estate? Might be worth to see if any planning was sought on the Friary and B&T sites? Who knows... looks like only Mr Dolan for sure.
I do feel that that staff deserve a explanation, why would he say that negotiations were on going when staff received letters on Saturday morning. which must have meant the decision to close must have been made before stating negotions would go on to the following week.
kba topdog kba topdog - 30 April 2008
because he lies and steals....in my opinion.......
very upset - 30 April 2008
http://www.printweek.com/news/806132/B-T-Parliamentary-debate-plea-thrown-Commons/
have you seen this
gary lucas - 30 April 2008
This is in 'my opinion' but i'm sure agreed with by most.Congratulations Mr Dolan you have finally said that was actually TRUE! you didnt pay our wages. Everything else you have said is threats by email, letter or hiding in a radio studio. Dont you think its about time you talked to someone face to face?????????????
Troubled Bystander - 30 April 2008
Reply to Gary Smith
Certainly the Friary site was NOT owned by MPI, but by the previous owner of the company, Charles Anderson. One of Dolan's arguments during the "consulation period", while Friary prepared to move to Frome, related to the premises. A prevalent theory suggested that MPI did not honour the terms of the lease (nor of the sale of the business come to that)
Re the B&T site - perhaps the B&T people can advise - doesnt the site form part of the assets of your pension scheme and didnt we hear somewhere that planning permission for residential dwellings was unlikely to be granted?
As to asset stripping, most of the Friary kit had not been maintained since the management buyer several years before - the best assets of that firm were the long-standing customers and the excellent staff, just like B&T
kba topdog kba topdog - 30 April 2008
THIEF
john peel - 30 April 2008
whats the difference between Derby County and Dolan
Answer: None, they are both going down
john peel - 30 April 2008
Another thing to concern me as it should all of us, all of our bank and building society details are on computer file in the B and T Files, still I`m sure that we can trust Mike not to do anything---------- can`t we ? Please tell me that we can.
kba topdog kba topdog - 30 April 2008
gis a job.........
ticking timebomb - 30 April 2008
9 months to get our money thats owed to us isnt good enough im writing to gordon brown personally and i wont stop until i get a reply off someone this man cannot get away with this
john peel - 30 April 2008
Good idea, ticking timebomb, I,too, will write to the P.M.Let`s all write and tell the P.M. in our own words just what this charlatan, this apology of a human being has done to the lives of 300 people, most of whom have families,and mortgages.If 300 people write, each giving their slant of the events ,what with our MP talking about it in The House Of Commons,maybe, just maybe something will stir in the minds of the Government especially in the light that Dolan has gone on record as saying that the Government will pay our wages, in his usual flippant style
gary evans - 30 April 2008
well said tt
we want justice and now would be nice
show your face you coward
ticking timebomb - 30 April 2008
imagine the interest being generated by what he has taken from us all its all gathering interest in an mpi account somewhere.
surely someone out there must know where the coward lives?
would it not be worth while going to the mpi offices in london?
Media & Print Investments Plc
5 Lower Belgrave Street London SW1W 0NR
t. 020 7565 9100 f. 020 7565 9101
e. info@media-print.co.uk w. www.media-print.co.uk
Registered in England No: 5635482. Registered Office: Latimer Studios, West Kington, Wiltshire SN14 7JQ.
ticking timebomb - 30 April 2008
whoops is that dolans mobile thats appeared on there? how silly of me!
kba topdog kba topdog - 30 April 2008
yeah i reck we ought to fone it around 3 am when we are blinding drunk! booooooo
Entrepeneur Money - 03 May 2008
smurf.......
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