STUC Calls On Public Bodies To Ignore Trade Union Bill
Unions have urged Scottish public bodies to break the law if Westminster implements proposals to limit the amount of time workers can spend on union duties and restrict the payment of dues by direct debit.
Unions have urged Scottish public bodies to break the law if Westminster implements proposals to limit the amount of time workers can spend on union duties and restrict the payment of dues by direct debit.
The proposals to limit facility time'' andcheck-off'' payments are preposterous'', according to Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) general secretary Grahame Smith.
He has urged the Scottish Government and public bodies to refuse to implement the proposals in the Trade Union Bill if they become law.
The UK Government describes facility time - paid time off for reps to conduct union duties - as taxpayer-funded subsidies'' to trade unions and has pledged to introduce greater scrutiny and controls.
It has also accused unions of misleading marketing practices'' with check-off schemes - where union dues are deducted from salaries by direct debit - and pledged to createa transparent process for trade union subscriptions that allows members to make an active choice of paying into political funds''.
In a speech to trade union activists and campaigners in Glasgow, Mr Smith said: It is unacceptable for UK Government minsters to threaten public-sector employers, including the Scottish Government and Scottish councils and health boards, with sanctions, possibly criminal sanctions, if they continue to offer check-off facilities to union members or an amount of facility time to union reps that goes beyond what they decree.
It is outrageous that UK ministers should have the power to interfere directly in the industrial relations arrangements that public-sector employers choose to have with the unions, particularly in areas where public services are devolved.
So, we will have a situation where ministers sitting in Westminster will be able to tell the Scottish Government or Glasgow City Council or the NHS in Scotland, which has been operating a very effective partnership arrangement with the unions, including having workers' representatives on heath boards, how much it can invest in ensuring good and effective industrial relations with its recognised unions.
This situation is simply unacceptable and untenable.
I call on the Scottish Government and all Scottish public bodies to join us in opposing the Bill and this ridiculous interference in our IR arrangement, and to make it clear now that should these preposterous proposal became a reality that they will refuse to implement any instructions issued from Westminster on facility time or check-off.''
The Public & Commercial Services union (PCS), which represents Scottish Government staff, has echoed the STUC's call for Scottish public-sector workers to be exempt from the Trade Union Bill's provisions.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: The trade union movement will oppose every facet of this Bill which is in ideological attack on workers everywhere.
The Scottish Government should play a leading role and oppose any moves to implement the Bill in Scotland.''
PCS Scottish secretary Lynn Henderson said Our expectation is that a government which has a fair work agenda should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with workers across Scotland and refuse to implement any arrangements to end check-off arrangements or attacks on facility time''.
Fair Work Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring effective consultation and involvement of staff.
We encourage our staff to join and play an active part in an appropriate trade union and believe that the current check-off and facility time arrangements facilitate this. We confirmed last year that the Scottish Government would continue to offer check-off and our position hasn't changed.
I have written to UK ministers seeking information and a discussion about the provisions of the Trade Union Bill and how we can protect Scotland's distinct approach to industrial relations.
While we have not yet seen any draft clauses in relation to check-off, we will continue to put forward the view that it should be the prerogative of Scottish ministers to decide on check-off and facility time in Scotland.''