The EADT reports that Matthew Elliot, chief executive the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: “People pay taxes for services, not to subsidise political organisations like trade unions.
“There are plenty of instances where the views of these unions are in direct conflict with the views and interests of taxpayers, such as the unions' opposition to urgently needed reforms of the costly Local Government Pension Scheme"
If we didn't know before, we sure well do now, what the Tory thinking on trade union rights and public service pensions is.
Greg Grant, Regional Head of UNISON for the Eastern Region, fought back. “Essex County Council employs more than 20,000 members of staff. All these staff have the right to be represented, and if trade union reps are going to represent staff properly they need time away from their usual jobs to do it.
“What's more, collective bargaining saves cash. If the council had to negotiate individually with all its staff, they would be forced to spend a fortune on consultants or mediators.”
Branches should be insisting on their rights under the ACAS code and get ready for the fight ahead.