Loughborough lambasted over Williams

The war of words between the European Construction Institute (ECI) and Loughborough University and the ECI's founder and former director Ivor Williams continues to rage.

Williams parted company with the institute amid claims that "basically, he was kicked out" (CJ 15 January).

In a letter to CJ this week (p21), Williams' union, the Association of University Teachers (AUT), refutes his former employer's claims that it is a "good employer using best practice" (CJ 5 February).

AUT assistant general secretary Martin Machon states that the union is not content with Loughborough's treatment of Williams.

"After many years of outstanding service and commitment, he has seen his contract torn up unilaterally by the university and humiliating restrictions imposed upon him," Machon writes.

The union's claims are backed by John Hughes, latterly the institute's benchmarking manager. He told CJ: "I resigned from the ECI because of its treatment of Williams."

He said Williams had been locked out: "I had to get his coat from the office as he had been instructed not to go back into the office."

He said a gag was imposed on Williams and has yet to be lifted.

Loughborough University was unavailable for comment as CJ went to press.