A LECTURERS' union claims three of its representatives at a college were "vindicated" in taking their former employers to a tribunal.

Lecturers John Bentley, Alex Peart and Richard Baker, all representatives of the university and college lecturers' union, Natfhe, were made redundant by the former Houghall College, an agricultural and horticultural teaching centre, near Durham, in 1998.

Mr Bentley and Mr Baker received notices of dismissal under the former college regime.

Natfhe regional officer Iain Owens said that, after an amalgamation to become East Durham and Houghall Community College, the dismissals were effectively ratified.

Mr Owens believes the trio were made redundant because of their union activities, as Mr Baker was branch vice-chairman, Mr Peart was health and safety officer and Mr Bentley was a committee member of Natfhe.

But Mr Owens said that in a written judgement an employment tribunal has found in favour of the trio, all of whom are now working either full-time, but on lower wages, or part-time, at other establishments.

Mr Owens welcomed the judgement and condemned the actions of the college.

"We stated throughout this process that the methods by which the college was selecting staff for redundancy was to target various people. We have been vindicated in this view."

No settlement has yet been reached, and Mr Owens said that, unless agreement is reached within the coming few weeks, a further hearing will be staged to decide on suitable figures to compensate the trio.

No one was available for comment at the college last night