Manchester Metropolitan University in trade union victimisation row

Christine Vie, a lecturer at MMU for 20 years and an officer of the local branch of the University and College Union (UCU), is the only member of staff facing compulsory redundancy as her department is disbanded.

The news comes as MMU celebrates being awarded the Gold Standard in the Investors in People Award. Christine was sent an 'astonishingly callous' email from the institution inviting her to celebrate the university's achievement.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'As the university celebrates an Investors in People Award it is highly embarrassing that it is pursuing what appears to be a case of trade union victimisation. None of the other lecturers affected by the reorganisation at MMU face redundancy - only the UCU officer.

'We are shocked that the university could send such an astonishingly callous invitation to Christine to celebrate the Investors in People Award as it attempts to get rid of her.'