MOD Union waste

[Aeronut]

MOD employing staff on full time union work.

Whitehall employs dozens of union officials at taxpayer's expense - Times Online (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6833107.ece)

I have seen this at a couple of MOD establishments where some civil servant posts spend their whole working time plotting to bite the hand that feeds them.

I do hope they can stop some of the disruptive tw@ts.

[November4]

Good to see the papers catching up on this story....it also occurs in the Police. Unison officials paid as police staff but doing union work only or on a part time basis.

And I bet in many other industries

[tucumseh]

Non story. It's a legal obligation.

Take AbbeyWood. One of the Unions mentioned has one full-time employee among 6000 or so staff. If he gets voted out, he has to find a "normal" job in MoD.

It's a crap job. The management, many of whom are fellow union members, treat him like dirt. And, last time I bothered to ask, his substantive grade didn't attract half the quoted sum.

[Al R]

It might be a crap job, but why should the public fund it?

[Pontius Navigator]

Al, as tucumseh says, it is the law.

It was probably part of the deal to curb the power of union shop stewards, too far back for my memory.

Union members have other rights too, like time off to attend a union meeting. They are paid in this time off but do not get T&S. Union officials get time off too and usually get T&S from within the membership.

From my limited experience the main areas of activity are in pay bargaining rounds and resolving grievances, either by or against their members. The officials bring a level of professional expertise and support to the member who might otherwise feel isolated and victimised. They bring line managers to count, especially service line managers who do not understand the CS T&C.

[Jabba_TG12]

I think we all realise just how much the Civil Service has been politicised over the last 12 years. Not sure I agree that it is a non-story, but I'm afraid it doesnt surprise me one iota. :rolleyes:

[charliegolf]

Whilst the trafic is mainly one way, it's not the whole story. TU reps where Mrs Golf works (DWP) have regularly supported the chopping of lazy gits using the sick system to their advantage.

Pontious' summary is as it seems to be in her office.

CG

[Al R]

Hi PN,

Yup. Accepted.

I am as free market as they come, but I really think we need responsible Unions now, more than ever. The problem is, we always swing from one extreme to another.. Maggie did away with them, they were squashed, bosses took the p#ss and now the backlash is a strong as ever because a new generation of workers has grown up, shafted.

[The Helpful Stacker]

As others have said, this is a non-story, its a legal obligation.

[airborne_artist]

A Dark Blue mate is now a BALPA rep at BA - he flies 50%, and is on union work for 50% - and has been pretty busy recently looking after the Ts and Cs of his flock, who include lots of ex Light/Dark Blue.

[The Gorilla]

Same in the Rail industry, again it's a non-story. Union Officials are entitled to paid time off from their primary tasks to go organise.

It keeps them happy! :}

TG

[Flt Lt Mac]

Could somebody please point out the military aviation link to this please. This is a jet blast thread surely.