Pickles attacks plans to re-unionise local government
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles has condemned Government plans to make central government contracts conditional on private firms promoting trade union membership. The proposals in the Cabinet Office document ‘Access to Skills, Trade Unions and Advice in Government Contracting’ include the words:
“[S]ervice providers are strongly encouraged to communicate the information on Trade Unions in that Annex to their employees. This should be done in ways that fit with their business processes, for example on notice boards, in the employee handbook or during their induction. This is to ensure that all employees can access information, advice and support at work and understand their rights in relation to trade union membership… Good employers respect these rights and some welcome unions on to their premises at agreed times”
Mr Pickles condemned the move as a policy favour to the trade unions, given in expectation of direct financial support and of further gains to the Labour Party through the unions’ political levy.
“We aren’t just returning to an era of beer and sandwiches for the unions. Ministers’ plans to re-unionise local government is a deeply chilling development that will undermine industrial relations, push up costs and mean more strike disruption.”
Conservatives have also revealed provisions to extend this policy to the NHS and to all local government services in 2009.
According to the Electoral Commission, 92.6% of the Labour Party’s funding came from the trade unions in the first quarter of 2008.
It's time for those who are paying Union dues to tell their Unions they wish to stop paying the Political levy that is taken from their dues and donated to the Labour Party Funds.At the very least,all Conservatives should make this move immediately.Others who dislike this corrupted Government should do exactly the same.Labour,without this finance would be finished within the year.
Posted by: R.Baker. | 29 July 2008 at 09:38
It's time for those who are paying Union dues to tell their Unions they wish to stop paying the Political levy that is taken from their dues and donated to the Labour Party Funds.At the very least,all Conservatives should make this move immediately.Others who dislike this corrupted Government should do exactly the same.Labour,without this finance would be finished within the year.
Posted by: R.Baker. | 29 July 2008 at 09:39
Didn't the Tories back off from cutting the Union link in the late 1980s? A mistake we shouldn't repeat again methinks.
Posted by: RichardJ | 29 July 2008 at 10:59
Agree with all of the above! It is about time that the Unions are cut from any political party and serve their members rather than Labour. If there had a been a Conservative Government presiding over the butchery of NHS staff rather than a Labour one I am fairly confidant that the members would have been balloted in the blink of an eye!
Posted by: Nicholas Taylor | 29 July 2008 at 11:23
as ever it isnt trades unionism that is the problem but the unions existing as branch of a political party. the way forward for trades unions is complete disassociation from all political bodies. in that way the unions can fight single-issue concerns in an independent way, therby being the true representatives of their members. we cant call a trades union democratic if it hold alligence with a political party. the unions could become a more effective and more credible influence on society if they gave up the labour party for good. in an era when we need to look beyond politics for answers to social questions the trades unions are behind the curve. the unions being shackled to the labour party only hampers the progress of workers rights and business relations in our country.
Posted by: tony makara | 29 July 2008 at 13:32
"as ever it isnt trades unionism that is the problem but the unions existing as branch of a political party"
No, it's just trade unionism, or rather the fact that the Government is on a slippery slope back to pre-1979.
"we cant call a trades union democratic if it hold alligence with a political party."
Yes you can, provided it elects its leaders and holds votes on whether and when it strikes.
"in an era when we need to look beyond politics for answers to social questions ..."
Politics is everything.
Posted by: Sam Tarran | 30 July 2008 at 00:44
Same old Labour. Nothing's really changed has it? I run a 'good' business and part of the reason that we tend, usually, to get along with each other is almost certainly down to our lack of a trade union. Also, it's hard enough supplying govt. contracts as it is with the plethora of equality/sustainability nonsense that you have to wade through and the politically correct boxes that you have to tick (we all have to follow employment legislation, so why make us state the obvious?). Putting an onus on private companies to communicate trade union rights is going to mean that most of us don't bother doing business with the state at all.
Posted by: Philip Parkin | 31 July 2008 at 10:28
We are working very closely with our local health branch of UNISON so is our local Tory MP (a Tory front bench spokesman) to save our local hospital
Indeed the Tory candidate in Glasgow is a UNISON activist
Some people need to get real
Most unions are not affiliated to the Labour Party, and a majority in most unions choice not to political party (as they can choice)
The big problem for the trade union movement has been that Tories and others walked away
leaving them to the Trots,
A good union reflects all aspects of society
and an important part of any democracy...just ask the Poles or those in Northern Ireland during the troubles
the Sun, times and even Telegraph praised UNISON for accepting 3 year pay deal in health service
so Eric's views seem at odds....unions have moved on I thought the modern Tory Party had to
Posted by: Mike Carter | 05 August 2008 at 12:06
We are working very closely with our local health branch of UNISON so is our local Tory MP (a Tory front bench spokesman) to save our local hospital
Indeed the Tory candidate in Glasgow is a UNISON activist
Some people need to get real
Most unions are not affiliated to the Labour Party, and a majority in most unions choice not to political party (as they can choice)
The big problem for the trade union movement has been that Tories and others walked away
leaving them to the Trots,
A good union reflects all aspects of society
and an important part of any democracy...just ask the Poles or those in Northern Ireland during the troubles
the Sun, times and even Telegraph praised UNISON for accepting 3 year pay deal in health service
so Eric's views seem at odds....unions have moved on I thought the modern Tory Party had to
Posted by: Mike Carter | 05 August 2008 at 12:06