Trade union budget to be halved (From Southend Standard)
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Trade union budget to be halved
9:30pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in Echo News By David Trayner
Claire Wormaid, Unison branch secretary for Southend Council, and branch officers outside Civic Centre
THE trade union budget at Southend Council is set to be slashed in half.
The proposed cut would mean neither Unison nor the GMB, which represent about half of council staff, will be able to fund a full-time officer.
It is hoped the £45,000 saving will help fill some of the £10million hole in its budget.
Claire Wormald, secretary of Unison’s Civic Centre branch, said: “We are fighting to challenge it because the membership will not have the support they have on a day-to-day basis now.
“They will not have the representation through the changes that are currently taking place and they won’t have support through other issues.”
The Tories claim the 50 per cent cut will bring it in line with other similar sized unitary authorities, while still fulfilling its obligations under employment law.
However Ms Wormald, who was a youth worker before taking on union duties full-time, said the proposal broke agreements the council had with Unison and the arbitration service ACAS.
The council pays trade union officers’ salaries while they carry out union duties instead of their regular work.
Ms Wormald said the change could force the union members to chose representatives based on who they could afford, rather who is best for the role.
Council leader Nigel Holdcroft pointed out union members already pay membership fees towards representation and questioned whether the taxpayer should subsidise them.
He said: “We are looking at all parts of the budget and this has been a significant sum.
“We are contributing far more than many authorities of a similar type.
“We are not suggesting scrapping the support altogether, but we are reducing it in line with other authorities.”
Comments(22)
BASILBRUSH
says...
10:29pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Max Impact
says...
10:57pm Thu 24 Jan 13
as for Claire Wormald, secretary of Unison’s Civic Centre branch, said: “We are fighting to challenge it because the membership will not have the support they have on a day-to-day basis now"
Here is a radical thought that you probably will not agree with why don't you and your fellow members give up part of your wage to help fund the post...
no thought not.
Scrap ALL the funding and face the wrath of the courts, if enough councils all stood together on the issue prehaps the laws could be changed.
Southend65
says...
11:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Perhaps the head of Unison can contribute using some of his near £100k a year salary.
Max Impact
says...
11:56pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Time for a change in the law, if the union can not afford to fund the position themselfs from their members subs than so be it, prehaps if they scrapped their big head offices and the leaders took a pay cut then they would be able to afford the positions they want to keep, it has to be self funding and NOT tax payer funded.
emcee
says...
12:07am Fri 25 Jan 13
I did not know of any law that alllowed this and I am astounded by this revelation. This law must be changed. If anyone wants to be a member of the union and the union want to support that member then the member in question should be paying for it. If that means doubling the subs, so be it.
Outrageous.
LibbyJ
says...
12:15am Fri 25 Jan 13
Southend65 wrote:That's about half the salary of the head of Southend council though, as one of the council leaders who earns more than the Prime Minister. Perhaps savings could be made there, and in the heads of departments, also paid handsomely by all accounts. Nice work if you can get it.....
The more you hear and see about the way this Council blows our money, the more you realise why they have a £10 million hole to fill.
Perhaps the head of Unison can contribute using some of his near £100k a year salary.
LibbyJ
says...
12:17am Fri 25 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 wrote:Stop moaning yourself! Union reps have an important role, once they're gone we will all be worse off, unless of course we number amongst the pigs more equal.
The council pays trade union officers’ salaries while they carry out union duties instead of their regular work.
What! My Council Tax is paying for a full time union rep. Cut that by 100%, not 50
Nebs
says...
12:24am Fri 25 Jan 13
emcee
says...
12:26am Fri 25 Jan 13
LibbyJ wrote:Let them be fully paid for out of union subs. Not my taxes.
stopmoaning1 wrote:Stop moaning yourself! Union reps have an important role, once they're gone we will all be worse off, unless of course we number amongst the pigs more equal.
The council pays trade union officers’ salaries while they carry out union duties instead of their regular work.
What! My Council Tax is paying for a full time union rep. Cut that by 100%, not 50
another council tax payer
says...
6:45am Fri 25 Jan 13
subs and turned to them for help they were inept to say the least and i should have sued them for taking money under false pretences and to find out they are getting paid by the public aswell leaves a nasty taste
Max Impact
says...
8:13am Fri 25 Jan 13
emcee wrote:Me thinks LibbyJ is with the union in question.
LibbyJ wrote:Let them be fully paid for out of union subs. Not my taxes.
stopmoaning1 wrote:Stop moaning yourself! Union reps have an important role, once they're gone we will all be worse off, unless of course we number amongst the pigs more equal.
The council pays trade union officers’ salaries while they carry out union duties instead of their regular work.
What! My Council Tax is paying for a full time union rep. Cut that by 100%, not 50
Are you happy with the situation where if you strike you don't get paid but those that call the strike do still get paid?
The leaders have union funded homes that YOU pay for with your subs is that fair?
Why should council tax payers who do not work for the council fund the union worker?
Would it not be fairer for those in the union to pay more to fund the post as it is them who will benefit, if they don't pay clearly they do not want the post?
No more tax payers money to the union's.
jayman
says...
9:45am Fri 25 Jan 13
just wait for the troy government to repeal the working times directive without any backfilling legislation.
80 hour weeks on minimum wage awaits the majority of plebs who where too lazy to go to a selective school, at home eating plain boiled lentils given to them by the food bank because they where too 'lazy' to travel 40 miles for a second job as a cleaner in an office.
yep. no need for unions , the Tory administration can be totally trusted to uphold the principles of 'rights' and fairness and proportionate austerity.
Warning.. this comment was made in a factory that also handles 'sarcasm'...
Rochford Rob
says...
10:14am Fri 25 Jan 13
Want to be in a union? Fine. Just don’t expect me to fund it.
Some bed wetter will be wailing about ‘cuts’ shortly. Govt spending has INCREASED since this useless lot got in power.
Whatever happened to the ‘Bonfire of the Quangos’ we were promised?
Nothing, that’s what.
These council bods need a shake up. Empty the bins, clean the streets and keep them lit.
There, no need for diversity officers, union reps, chief execs or legions of other non producing drains on the public purse.
IMHO of course.
Rochford Rob
says...
11:35am Fri 25 Jan 13
Well here it is again as one word may have not been to the Mods' liking:
This is nothing new. It’s been going on for years. Google ‘Pilgrims’ – it will give an idea of how many millions the last shower were hosing at their supporters.
Want to be in a union? Fine. Just don’t expect me to fund it.
Some bed wetter will be ALONG wailing about ‘cuts’ shortly. Govt spending has INCREASED since this useless lot got in power.
Whatever happened to the ‘Bonfire of the Quangos’ we were promised?
Nothing, that’s what.
These council bods need a shake up. Empty the bins, clean the streets and keep them lit.
There, no need for diversity officers, union reps, chief execs or legions of other non producing drains on the public purse.
IMHO of course.
stopmoaning1
says...
11:51am Fri 25 Jan 13
LibbyJ wrote:Yes they do have an important role, I agree fully with you there. However, I and all of the other Council Tax payers who are NOT in this union should NOT have to pay for the post. I am in a different union, how would YOU like to pay a share of my reps salary
stopmoaning1 wrote:Stop moaning yourself! Union reps have an important role, once they're gone we will all be worse off, unless of course we number amongst the pigs more equal.
The council pays trade union officers’ salaries while they carry out union duties instead of their regular work.
What! My Council Tax is paying for a full time union rep. Cut that by 100%, not 50
Keptquiettillnow
says...
3:44pm Fri 25 Jan 13
Maverick06
says...
3:46pm Fri 25 Jan 13
emcee wrote:Couldn't have said it better myself!
I am absolutely appalled to hear that my taxes have been used to fund union business. Any union business, whether it is funding full time staff or otherwise should only, ONLY be paid for by union subscriptions. I did not know of any law that alllowed this and I am astounded by this revelation. This law must be changed. If anyone wants to be a member of the union and the union want to support that member then the member in question should be paying for it. If that means doubling the subs, so be it. Outrageous.
Time now to get a proper job Ms Wormald!!
I must admit I am with the 100% cut to funding and not just 50%. If Unison want a full time person, then they should pay for it.
The days of the Unions are dead anyway, so live with it Ms Wormald.
Max Impact
says...
4:37pm Fri 25 Jan 13
How is that fair?
Wonder if the unions would like to pay a share of my council tax? Eventhough I have never been a member of Unison nor the GMB...
No thought not.
Rochford Rob
says...
10:44am Sat 26 Jan 13
Alll sucking on the public teat?
A disgrace. Sack them all and give me a refund on my council tax. I don't expect to fund Union activity.
A trip to the barbers via a decent tailor wouldn't go amiss either.
Scruffy sods.
Shoebury_Cyclist
says...
11:16am Sat 26 Jan 13
Rochford Rob wrote:Seeing as your Rochford council tax goes nowhere near Southend's coffers, perhaps you might, oh, shut up?
The picccy at the head of the page. There are seven of the buggers.
Alll sucking on the public teat?
A disgrace. Sack them all and give me a refund on my council tax. I don't expect to fund Union activity.
A trip to the barbers via a decent tailor wouldn't go amiss either.
Scruffy sods.
Max Impact
says...
8:21pm Sat 26 Jan 13
Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:So do you agree with coucil tax payers money being spent on union activity/
Rochford Rob wrote:Seeing as your Rochford council tax goes nowhere near Southend's coffers, perhaps you might, oh, shut up?
The picccy at the head of the page. There are seven of the buggers.
Alll sucking on the public teat?
A disgrace. Sack them all and give me a refund on my council tax. I don't expect to fund Union activity.
A trip to the barbers via a decent tailor wouldn't go amiss either.
Scruffy sods.
The tax payer gains NOTHING from the unions apart from less of their tax being used for council services.
Should the unions pay for the post via an increase in local members subs to cover the cost of the post, do you think this would more fair on the council tax payers who have never been in the unions in question?
stopmoaning1 says...
10:28pm Thu 24 Jan 13
What! My Council Tax is paying for a full time union rep. Cut that by 100%, not 50