Public Paid Unison Reps

[elster]

A wasn't really surprised to find out that there are Union members within the NHS.

I always assumed that they were part time roles by staff members and Unison paid them for their time.

I was not aware that they are paid by the NHS to be a Unison rep.

Apparently this goes on in a variety of public sector work places.

I just find it a bit surprising that tax payers should pay for the employ of a person who does not work for the taxpayer, but a private company.

http://order-order.com/2011/05/12/pilgrims-progres...

[chris watton]

Probably the same type heard heckling at the Tories every week on Question Time. Seriously though, WTF are these doing getting paid from tax payer's money?

[elster]

chris watton said:

Probably the same type heard heckling at the Tories every week on Question Time. Seriously though, WTF are these doing getting paid from tax payer's money?

I always thought Union members paid to be part of the Union and that formed the wages of the Union rep.

[chris watton]

I always thought the union subs paid for these people, too!

EDM that has been tabled said:

Trades Union Officials Funded from the Public Purse. EDM 1799

That this house notes the existence of full time Trades Union officials whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer; further notes that these have been nicknamed “Pilgrims” by the media as a reference to Jane Pilgrim from UNISON who attacked the government whilst claiming to be a nurse, it was subsequently shown that she didn’t practise but instead claimed an NHS salary to work for the union; believes that this practise is deplorable; further believes that we do not know how many Pilgrims there are in Britain but each one deprives the taxpayer of valuable frontline services; resolves to continue to work towards a ban on Trades Union Pilgrims.

[fergywales]

elster said:

chris watton said:

Probably the same type heard heckling at the Tories every week on Question Time. Seriously though, WTF are these doing getting paid from tax payer's money?

I always thought Union members paid to be part of the Union and that formed the wages of the Union rep.

Members subs go to funding the Labour party. Oops, is that Paul 'Fat bd' Kenny at my door?

[Puggit]

They are all at it: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2092262_mp_reve...

[ralphrj]

This came up during the General Election when it was shown that instead of spending their time on union activities they were actually campaigning on behalf of Labour.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/art...

Edit: was actually before the General Election

[Johnnytheboy]

elster said:

chris watton said:

Probably the same type heard heckling at the Tories every week on Question Time. Seriously though, WTF are these doing getting paid from tax payer's money?

I always thought Union members paid to be part of the Union and that formed the wages of the Union rep.

That would be tax payers money anyway then - originally - in the case of the NHS.

[davepoth]

The thinking behind this is that, since employers have to allow a shop steward time off work to perform union duties, if it's a big site it makes sense to have someone do it full time rather than muck about with rotas to allow a part time steward time off their normal job all over the place.

[elster]

davepoth said:

The thinking behind this is that, since employers have to allow a shop steward time off work to perform union duties, if it's a big site it makes sense to have someone do it full time rather than muck about with rotas to allow a part time steward time off their normal job all over the place.

I just assumed that Unison paid for that time.

A bit like if I worked elsewhere my employer wouldn't pay me for the same time.

[robm3]

fergywales said:

elster said:

chris watton said:

Probably the same type heard heckling at the Tories every week on Question Time. Seriously though, WTF are these doing getting paid from tax payer's money?

I always thought Union members paid to be part of the Union and that formed the wages of the Union rep.

Members subs go to funding the Labour party. Oops, is that Paul 'Fat bd' Kenny at my door?

Actually, it was a lot worse than that. The Government at the time(Labour) gave Unite large amounts (millions)for 'training'. Unite paid Labour similar large loans for the re-election campaign. So in summary basically taxpayers paid large amounts for the Labour re-election campaign.
This issue was brought up when Unite's accounts were auditted.

[crankedup]

As much as some here detest Unions it has to be remembered that a Shop Steward is the link between the workers and Management. Although Unions get lots of stick about most things in working life, the Unions provide elements of good. I would much rather have dealt with a Shop Steward than a group of staff grumbling about this or that.

[andymadmak]

crankedup said:

As much as some here detest Unions it has to be remembered that a Shop Steward is the link between the workers and Management. Although Unions get lots of stick about most things in working life, the Unions provide elements of good. I would much rather have dealt with a Shop Steward than a group of staff grumbling about this or that.

Fine. If you believe that, then fair enough. But why should we pay for it? Surely the Unions should pay their own people?

[10 Pence Short]

My ex works for the Environment Agency. She used to get all sorts of letters and assorted propaganda blaming the Conservatives for this cut and that cut that might affect their current job- in 2009, FFS.

For want of a better phrase, these parasitical wkers just leach money from their members to further their own useless, left wing political ambition to rob everybody else of theirs. Frankly I don't understand why any right minded individual would subscribe to any organisation that aims to turn the workforce and population into mindless zombies feeding the Socialists with their champagne.

[VeeFour]

crankedup said:

As much as some here detest Unions it has to be remembered that a Shop Steward is the link between the workers and Management. Although Unions get lots of stick about most things in working life, the Unions provide elements of good. I would much rather have dealt with a Shop Steward than a group of staff grumbling about this or that.

This.

A good union rep. / shop steward keeps both sides of the fence 'honest' - which generally leads to a happier and more productive workforce.

[Digga]

crankedup said:

As much as some here detest Unions it has to be remembered that a Shop Steward is the link between the workers and Management. Although Unions get lots of stick about most things in working life, the Unions provide elements of good. I would much rather have dealt with a Shop Steward than a group of staff grumbling about this or that.

When I last checked, jobs are contracts between the employer and the employee. There is no need for a middleman (especailly at taxpayers expense) at that stage in the relationship and I'm not certain that with modern employment law and HR regualtion, there is at any other juncture.

In larger firms, workers can express any collective concerns to their direct managers or HR, in smaller firms, communication channels are generally unhindered.

[chris watton]

10 Pence Short said:

My ex works for the Environment Agency. She used to get all sorts of letters and assorted propaganda blaming the Conservatives for this cut and that cut that might affect their current job- in 2009, FFS.

For want of a better phrase, these parasitical wkers just leach money from their members to further their own useless, left wing political ambition to rob everybody else of theirs. Frankly I don't understand why any right minded individual would subscribe to any organisation that aims to turn the workforce and population into mindless zombies feeding the Socialists with their champagne.

Essentially, they get paid to hate - and we pay them!

[TEKNOPUG]

Was there not some Labour scam whereby they were allocating taxpayers money to Unions, who were then in turn making donations to the Labour party? Or have I dreamt that

[randlemarcus]

TEKNOPUG said:

Was there not some Labour scam whereby they were allocating taxpayers money to Unions, who were then in turn making donations to the Labour party? Or have I dreamt that

ahem ^^^^^ (see 09:42 post)

[TEKNOPUG]

randlemarcus said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Was there not some Labour scam whereby they were allocating taxpayers money to Unions, who were then in turn making donations to the Labour party? Or have I dreamt that

ahem ^^^^^ (see 09:42 post)

robm3 had the same dream as me?!?!

That's Friday 13th in action!