MP votes for proposals to prevent trade union officials receiving public money
Today in the House of Commons, John Baron MP voted in support of a 10 Minute Rule Bill put forward by Jesse Norman MP. The Bill drew attention to the fact that there are some 2,800 union representatives whose salaries are not paid by their unions, but through public funds. The total cost to the taxpayer of these salaries (and other direct payments) in 2010-2011 was £113 million. Despite being based in schools, hospitals and local authorities, these representatives spend all of their working time on union business.
The Bill intended to stop this state of affairs by providing that pay for hours worked on behalf of unions by union officials during hours when they are paid by an employer should be refunded to the employer by the relevant trade union.
The vote was defeated 211-132. The convention is that Government Ministers abstain on 10 Minute Rule Bills.
After the vote, John said:
“This Bill was in no way an attack on the work of the trade unions. It is simply a point of principle and accountability. Public money intended for front-line services should not be diverted into private organisations. £113 million a year is a lot of money.”
“The unions not short of funds, and there is no reason why their officials should not be paid out of their own coffers.”
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