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The Hadron collider - 10 September 2008

My money is on him blaming the "credit crunch" and the current economy climate.

reggie reynolds - 10 September 2008

looks like youve got your comeuppance dolan about time

Clive Keeble - 10 September 2008

Tonight my thoughts are with those long serving workers at Goodman Baylis.

The Hadron collider - 10 September 2008

True say Clive, true say.

Printweek have already started to censor our comments even though no abusive language was used.

Is Mike on the phone complaining alreday???

Martin Davies - 10 September 2008

Are you running scared Mr dolan

mark hamblin - 10 September 2008

if this man is allowed to go into businnes again i:m emigrating to zimbabwee ,

kba topdog kba topdog - 10 September 2008

hoping this will bring an end to the torment and anguish this man and his former company have bestowed on people....Great to see his former "flagship company" BT&D starting to get the orders rolling in,with the workforce all determined to prove a point!

ginger dyer - 10 September 2008

i've only good things to say aboul mike dolan;

GOOD NIGHT

GOOD BYE

GOOD RIDDENCE

STEVEN ROGERS - 10 September 2008

maybe now the doubters who were willing to believe that the employees of butler and tanner were to blame will now hold their hands up and admit they were wrong, we all feel for the people who have been affected by this announcement as we all know what a tragic time they will now face but if there is any justice in this world Mr Dolan will be held accountable for his actions on Friday when he appears in court (thats if he turns up) he cant hide for ever and I only hope that the likes of Mr Heyes stop covering up for him and tell the truth to the employees. We wish you all good luck.

brett mann - 10 September 2008

The only good thing to come out of this is that people can now see that the staff at the former Butler & Tanner held the moral high ground.

STEVEN ROGERS - 10 September 2008

Brett he would'nt even know what a concience means I have spoke to him personaly since the demice of b&t and he told me he has no concience he does not hold himself or anyone working on his behalf responsible for innocent people being put out off work as he put it we all know the score when we try to protect what we think is our right, as he put it you have no rights when you work for Mr Dolan so I only hope he does turn up on Friday(I wont hold my breath) maybe then justice will be done and it will be our turn to say YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS

STEVEN ROGERS - 10 September 2008

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

in his press shot he is almost forcing a smile.

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

I find it shocking that people in business can get away with blue murder in this day and age.

reggie reynolds - 11 September 2008

for those of you who thought that us former employees were lying UP YOURS THE TRUTH IS COMING OUT. good luck to you all at BT&D see you around and about. Wales going great

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

thanks for editing my comments printweek, much appreciated!!

Mick Hart - 11 September 2008

On past record MPI shareholders ought to be panicking - or at least get the company's asset list and balance sheet checked out!

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

Just a quick one:

You dont have to delete this one as it is FACT not lies im making up, this is a stone cold FACT:

MPI and Dolan stole my pension money along with 300 other peoples and now he is doing it again.

This is the truth. The public need to know about MPI/Dolan.

stan manley - 11 September 2008

MPI group have been supplied and supported by the paperlinx group!!! MPI have driven down print prices causing other printers to either lose work or produce work at below costs. When will printers stop using suppliers who supports these rogue companies

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

What is the paperlinx group??

Really DoneFor - 11 September 2008

People, you do realize this is part of the master plan? After skimming the cream off the top, he is getting out while he can. Trust me.

Michael Woolhouse - 11 September 2008

How long now before Borcombe SP and the rest of the MPI Group enters into Administration and re-emerges with new directors?

Chris Rushton - 11 September 2008

I don't see any point in creating a witch hunt for Mike Dolan even though it will probably make alot of people feel better. Lets just say what goes around comes around.

What I think we need to do is place our thoughts and energy those left behind e.g. The Friary etc. A tough time has just become tougher and I think all companines within the MPI group along with their employees will require as much support as we can give them.

Sandwich Man No.1 Fan - 11 September 2008

It seems strange to me that you all come out of the woodwork when any article relating to MPI is posted on Printweek. It seems you have very selective memories. You now hold Mr Sarney in such high esteem but you seem to forget not all that long ago, he couldn't walk through the factory without being booed. It makes me wonder if any of you, that were lucky enough to be re-employed actually do any work, seeing as you spend so much time watching printweek. Then why change the habit of a lifetime?!

You claim MPI is responsible for driving down the cost of print, yet you have the same regime in place from before, during and after MPI's ownership, that was responsible for selling all your print at huge negatives. You now have at least 6 so called "Directors" in a company of approximately 80 people. Your one saving grace is that you now have someone that can bank roll you indefinitely. However, if Felix Dennis is as shrewd a business man as we are lead to believe, how long will he do this for?

It is no wonder that Paperlinx were happy to supply B&T with paper. They must have seen this as a huge cash cow. You waste twice as much paper as any other printing company. Just maybe, if you had concentrated on your own inefficiencies, you might not need to blame everyone else for what happened.

I have nothing but gratitude for MPI. They have fought tooth and nail to keep everyone else employed across the other MPI companies, which has been jeopardised by the actions of Stuart North, Unite and all the other sheep that did what they were told to do. I wish to god, MPI had let B&T rot when they had a chance. Maybe 300 other people wouldn't now be staring down the barrel of redundancy, who, like 120 B&T staff had/have no say in what is happening to their livelihoods.

Truth and Justice - 11 September 2008

Blimey! Better put your tin hat on Sandwich Man.......... Does make a change to see someone stand up for Mr Dolan though. Let the games begin.

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

sandwich man = dolan in disguise!!! Give me back my pension Mike!!

Explain the blatant theft then Sandwich man???

I bet you cant??

brett mann - 11 September 2008

Dolan stole my pension contributions, he is nothing but a thief in a suit, pure and simple! SANDWICH MAN try and fog that fact!!!!!

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

lets have some decorum on the forum please.

lastman standing - 11 September 2008

Hmmm

Sandwich Man No.1 Fan , Mike Dolan breaks cover

Terry Hawkins - 11 September 2008

Sandwich Man you have not got a clue just as Mike Dolan does not have a clue about business or ethics, I was one of the 80 odd Friary staff that lost their jobs when good old Mike proudly announced that our £7 million award winning company was to move 60 miles and I can assure you that ;he did not fight tooth and nail to keep jobs, quite the opposite, his business plan was doomed to failure from the start and unfortunately for all B&T were implicated. Yes they had problems and drastic action needed to be taken, but as a stand alone company it was recoverable as is being proved, very good luck to all, but sadly Friary has now gone and Borcombe and Goodman will require drastic surgery if they are to survive Dolans regin, do not forget it is the people that make a great company, and often they are more passioate about their work than the money men who conduct them

Stuart North - 11 September 2008

"Sandwich Man",

Instead of writing those foolish comments, you should have taken the time to look at the facts. It is not that difficult to research the business dealings of Mike Dolan and MPI. You could start with Companies House and then the internet, including the Printweek archives. Forget what everyone else is saying though and check the facts for yourself. If you are of moderate intelligence and are able to do this without bias, eventually even you will discover the truth.

You should discover that Mike Dolan entered into the industry quite recently after being "involved" in the music industry. You will also discover a string of acquisitions, swiftly followed by factory/business closures. These closures resulted in redundancies at state terms which regularly burdened the tax payer. You will then discover a trail of secrecy, broken promises and the shoddy treatment of employees over and over again. Add the theft of employee pension money and most people begin to get the picture!

You can suck up to Mr Dolan and MPI all you like, bury your head in the sand or try the MPI/Dolan trick of blaming everyone but themselves, but bitterly attempting to pin the blame on B&T for your own demise is naïve and pathetic.

The staff at B&T did not follow anyone like sheep; they had the intelligence to see through what you apparently can not. They made a democratic decision and the choice was simply right from wrong. The B&T staff deserved to be employed as they are morally stronger, more skilled and have backbones, unlike some lesser cowardly types. The original company traded for over 150 years with generations of loyal staff. Compare that to the history of MPI!

Mike Dolan and MPI have shown utter contempt for employee rights and the law, which is why there are various investigations under way and court cases pending.

Perhaps you might pluck up the courage to reveal yourself, instead of hiding behind a daft name? Then again with ignorant comments such as yours, you are probably better off hiding your identity.

Stuart North

Senior Workplace Rep

Butler, Tanner and Dennis

gary brake - 11 September 2008

At then end of the day Mike Dolan and MPI have shafted every single one of us, MR.Sandwich its only ever a few nodding dogs like yourself that will ever stick up for a thief like Dolan so maybe you ought to change your name to churchill....oh yes. You think that bloke cares about you as an employee or ex-employee? hes a coward a bully and has no morals we all knew b&ts was in the sh!t but the guys working back there are proving to not only MPI and Dolan but the rest of the printing world that with a bit of hard work by all things could have worked and maybe even one day get back to that £50 million turnover Mike harped on about in his fist address to the workforce. All in all stop being so bitter and blaming Stuart and the union who did and still are doing a fantastic job, with the court case coming up tommorow we will see who was truly in the wrong legally maybe then you can do us all a favour and shut your mouth and we can all at last let this rest safe in the knowledge MPI and Dolan wont be able to wreck anybody elses lives

uwe rosler - 11 September 2008

hard work could have worked dont think so

fat boy - 11 September 2008

it's now fair to say history is repeating its self. Good old Mike and his band of merry men are taking from the poor to give to the rich at Goodman Baylis as they have succesfully done the other companys in the brief time they've controlled them. Is sandwich mans no1 fan dear old Geoff \( i didn,t know it was happening) Hayes.

Bad Boy - 11 September 2008

Wait and see. All will be revealed and onwards & upwards for all at GB and Borcombe. Best of luck to you all and 'up yers' to all the naysayers!

STEVEN ROGERS - 11 September 2008

Re" Sandwich man " obviously this chap likes to be in a "sandwich" !! between whom we might like to ponder! what really sticks in their craw is that BT&D is up and running with a highly motivated workforce determined to succeed. Some positive news for UK print during these tough times.

Mike Wilce - 11 September 2008

I was made redundant from Borcombe in July with the promise of a final salary / severence payment on or around 29th August....Have I received that payment??? Have I f*$£ ...

fat boy - 11 September 2008

i never liked the bloke when he was in the Monkeys!!

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

I wish everyone employed by MPI all the best in the coming days.

lets see where he lays the blame this time.

Dolans name must be mud in the print trade now.

Mike Wilce - 11 September 2008

Not just Dolan's name....

Mike Wilce - 11 September 2008

I have just heard that Borcombe have, or are just about to dissappear down the very same plug hole....A real shame, some really wonderful & very loyal and concientious people have been trully shafted by a piss poor selection of senior management, in some cases to my knowlege a management team who have previously cocked up on earlier occasion\(s) too.... of course whilst they have fuc@ed up ordinary people's lives..they have awarded themselves super salaries and have had absolutely no regard or penalty for their actions.... The crazy thing is.... the laws regarding business dealings bear no compparison to the one's that ordinary individuals have to ahere to.... I steal a 40p Mars bar from the local shop.... I get a conviction and criminal record.... overpaid and incompetent directors f@8* up big time and they get what exactly???

Mike Wilce - 11 September 2008

ps.. I have never stolen anything from anyone.....

fat boy - 11 September 2008

GB & Borcombe have just been taken over by a scouser, and a cheese eating surrender monkey....

Bad Boy - 11 September 2008

Mike Wilce - 11 September 2008

bad um er fat boy... who the hell are you?

The Hadron collider - 11 September 2008

i know bp went into administration last week have heard nothing about a takeover as of yet.

fat boy - 11 September 2008

company is called HS Printers \(Worcester)Ltd, same for Borcombe

directors:

Stephen L Hardy. Wirral Merseyside

David F Searle. L'Orangeraie Mougains.

all available on company house.

Mike Wilce - 11 September 2008

Cool...I just hope I get what is owed fat boy...

fat boy - 11 September 2008

With you on that my friend. We just hope to get paid at the end of every month for as long as we're still going.

Annoyed Supplier - 12 September 2008

HS Printers (Romsey) ltd and (Worcester) ltd, haven't read the details yet but will download from Companies House later. I and make a wild guess as to who is buying the MPI Group now.

Does anyone know what is going on with Friary Press though?

Don Keyballs - 12 September 2008

.

Don Keyballs - 12 September 2008

Sandwich Man is a legend!

Sandwich Man No.1 Fan - 12 September 2008

Do you honestly believe that Mike Dolan would actually engage himself on these forums to respond to some of the semi-literate abusive rants of disgruntled employees? No! I am not Jeff Heyes either. Well done to Printweek for removing/editing some of the ridiculous comments on here. I will not reveal my true identity, as I do not want to be intimidated by Stuart North. He tried to do the same with a previous poster, offering to meet him in a car park to "discuss everything".

Mr Brake, I'm glad to hear the current workforce at B&T, are working tirelessly to ensure the survival of a once great printing company. Just maybe... had you all shown this level of commitment when MPI bought B&T, that 220 of your colleagues would still be employed? It is a crying shame that events transpired the way they did before the employees of B&T realised what they had lost.

However, under the guidance of Mr North and Unite, the workforce initiated a "work to rule" and imposed a "go slow". As if it was possible to be any less productive?! Further to this you all voted for industrial action despite warnings that it would be terminal for the business. Did you really believe that Mr Dolan was bluffing?! Frankly I find it somewhat hypocritical that Stuart North thinks I am "naive, bitter and burying my head in the sand". I am so pleased you have managed to absolve any responsibility you may have had in the demise of B&T. How do you sleep at night?!

Not content with the downfall of B&T you and your loyal supporters have posted a host of slanderous comments on these forums about MPI. Mike Dolan is innocent until proven otherwise. How can you be so blinkered to think that your ill-considered posts on here, hasn't had a negative effect on the remaining MPI companies. If you had any sense of decency you would stop trying put the rest of us out of a job and take heed in the kind, supportive words of Chris Ruston.

MPI has saved me from redundancy once before. Yesterday afternoon the employees of Borcombe and Goodman Baylis, received news that our futures were secure. It is about time that some of us still employed stood by our employers. I for one, have always been respectfully and fairly treated by MPI. For these reasons I am truly grateful, as I am to David and Steve for believing in us!

Mike Wilce - 12 September 2008

I'm alright Jack eh Sandwichman????

fat boy - 12 September 2008

explain why our pension and personal sickfund contributions paid straight out of our wages are missing at the moment, sandwich no1 fan, at GB

The Hadron collider - 12 September 2008

sandwich man \(daniels)

how can facts and truth be slanderous??

if mr dolan wants to take me to court for telling the truth then lets go.

you never mention the fact that mpi set up a company pension scheme and stole the money.

looking back i can see exactly why the offer to let us backdate the payments \(which would total many thousands of pounds) was far to good to be true.

Lots of people have been robbed of their hard earned money sandwich man.

i challenge you to defend mike dolan on that one??

The Hadron collider - 12 September 2008

oh, why are you trying to muddy stuart norths name??

trade unions are a democracy.

the reps act on behalf of their members.

which is exactly what happened.

we saw dolan coming a mile off. if we'd give him what he wanted we may have had a few more months trading but not many.

gary brake - 12 September 2008

fair shout The Hadron collider all dolan and mpi would have done was keep coming back for more and more

sandwich man-

Mr Brake, I'm glad to hear the current workforce at B&T, are working tirelessly to ensure the survival of a once great printing company. Just maybe... had you all shown this level of commitment when MPI bought B&T, that 220 of your colleagues would still be employed? It is a crying shame that events transpired the way they did before the employees of B&T realised what they had lost.

so what your saying is that our attitudes were wrong and that we should have come in and let dolan rule us like slaves? if i remember rightly when mpi bought b&ts we were told that we would earn more money than you can imagine, the first 3 months were solid with work the factory was running basically 24/7 everyone was putting the work out. Once the work dried up the problems started to appear, Dolan had done nothing but plaster over the problems b&ts always had by flooding the place with work and when the cracks started t appear again we all know wta happened then.

You state that you hold MPI in high regard for fighting tooth and nail. Well i think i speak on behalf of pretty much everyone who worked at B&Ts in saying that we hold STUART NORTH and all the other reps in the highest of regards and thank them for all there hard work and effort and for showing us that we did do the right thing by not being bullied or steam rollered by Dolan and the MPI group. If any ex B&Ts employee disagrees with me think about this if we had have signed what Dolan wanted us to sign where would we have been now? what would he have come for next? the only thing he could have taken after that was our souls.

Porkus Mctwat - 12 September 2008

Gary, Dolan wouldn't have come for anything next ,he still would have shut the company down after asset stripping the place. Stuart and the Union reps standing up to him just gave the tosser someone to blame. If Dolan wanted to keep it open why were no company accounts kept after December????? Very dodgy.

gary brake - 12 September 2008

it was defo all want want want

brett mann - 12 September 2008

Sandwich man, how do you feel now Dolan has lost the case in the tribuneral today, bought by Unite the union for the former B&Ts workers over Dolans non 90 day consultation!

Mark Hutton - 13 September 2008

To S M No1 Fan

I "come out of the woodwork" when MPI appear on this site because, like my workmates, believe i have a legitimate point to make. I surf this site in my own time to challenge people like you to back up your views with hard facts and hands on experience as i do. I also use my own name and don't hide behind spurious fears for my safety.

I was not coerced into voting for industrial action i took into consideration the way we were being treated and far from being a sheep decided to stand up to what i regarded as corporate bullying from MPI.

I tend to agree that some of the work practices on the site needed tightening up and if that was Mr Dolans target he could have easily achieved it. The framework of savings the new company is operating under were drawn up, originaly, to save cash and increase production for MPI.

Rather than the union operating a go-slow what Mr Dolan did was to alienate his workers so badly \(letters to their homes containing swearing!) they just wouldn't perform to optimum. You can't work hand in hand with someone who's just holding up his fist. Good luck to you you've kept your job - but you've kept it because the guy you regard so highly has bailed out not because he's stood by you. It was MPI's current pariah status in the industry that forced his hand and as the figurehead he has to take the flak. You may take his comments that he was willing to put more of his cash into the business, but his partners let him down, as gospel - but i choose not to.

Stuart North worked tirelessly to save the old company but that didn't seem to be Dolans agenda i think he wanted to be a modern Eddie Shah or Murdoch but didn't realise the mood and the times had changed and that type of approach was unnecessary.

The reason peope think you might be Dolan is that you use phrases that we got from him - a lot of talk about "not bluffing" etc. It makes a serious dispute sound like a fight in a pub car park.

Here's a challenge for you - defend the missing pension payments from two of his companies. "Innocent until proven guilty" you add, i say to you "one down and more to come"!

Henry Hutton

\(no alias!)