cavorting.
It's easy to research, there is an acas code, and all the time off
provisions were brought together in sections 168 - 170 of the Trade
Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
Although 1982 is a long time ago, most of the post Thatcher Employment legislation in this area dates back to the 80s and earlier.
Union duties must relate to the official’s own employer
and not, for example, to any associated employer.
There is a distinction between duties and activities.
If DH has said in the public domain that he wanted the time off to update the branch records, that is, at best an activity, not a duty. Some ETs would NOT even regard it as an activity as defined by the law and acas.
Duties are to do with the relationship with the employer.
I should not repeat theacas code here. You can find it at
http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/l/q/CP03_1.pdf
Note one quote "There is no right to time off for trade union activities which themselves consist of industrial action." getting a ballot ready for Industrial action will fall in to this category.
Finally - it is the Rep's task to ASK FOR time off - not to just take it!
On the GMB deal, the GMB is run more as a business than as a "battling" TU. It is more interested in gaining members and organising the members than it is in striking - but as they've shown at Astra Zeneca, if they have to strike they will do. Both Mick Rix (Aviation) and Alan Black. (Chems/Pharms) are people who can do deals. Mick has an interesting background................
Alan should be a Prof. at a leading Business School. Quite why he's an FTO I have no idea.