BA CC industrial relations (current airline staff only)

[BASSAwitch]

Unite member

Actually I was a Unite/BASSA member until about 6 months ago. My request is for the period when I was a member- having paid in for well over two decades.

They have 28 days but so far all I'm getting is delaying tactics and excuses. If the membership database is in such disarray what chance the books are well kept?

Clowns.

[Beagle9]

BASSAwitch

Even if you do get something, how will you know that they are the real thing? (Perhaps someone on here can advise?)

Just a thought. Good luck though.

[Rover90]

BASSA Accounts

Even if you do get something, how will you know that they are the real thing?

At the very least you should see a signed accountants certificate that reads:

In accordance with instructions given to me, I have prepared, without carrying an audit, the annexed accounting records of the British Airlines Stewards Stewardesses Association and from information and explanations supplied to me.

Signed

(Accountants)


If you get a summary copy of accounts that later proves to be false or wildly inaccurate as a result of a subsequent audit then there are serious consequences for both the association and the accountants.

The whole subject of trade union finances is very well laid out on the following website and do follow the links to drill down a bit deeper.

Trade union finances and accounting records : Directgov - Employment

[From Tunbridge Wells]

If they don't comply, what happens next? A formal complaint raised as per the link above?

Just another thought - don't we all have the right, as per the Data Protection Act, to see what records Bassa may have about us too?

[Rover90]

Just another thought - don't we all have the right, as per the Data Protection Act, to see what records Bassa may have about us too?

The law states:

Trade unions must keep an accurate and up-to-date register of their members’ names and addresses. You are entitled, on request, to:

• find out from the register, for free, whether there is an entry about you
• be supplied, for free or for a reasonable charge, with a copy of any entry on the register about you

[From Tunbridge Wells]

Rover90

Thanks - I'm going to ask and make sure they no longer have my details

[demomonkey]

Re: Data Protection Act:

You can formally (in writing) ask any organisation to provide you a copy with all information they hold upon you and they must comply within a defined period (I forget exactly how long). Failure to comply could result in a prosecution/fine.

Organisations are only allowed to record information which is pertinent to your relationship with them. For example it would be deemed inappropriate for your employer to record your membership of political organisations. A grey area forms when you leave an organisation, the case can be easily made to suggest why it would be a good idea for organisations to maintain details of past members purely for their own internal use, e.g. recording the historical collection of subscriptions.

I'm not sure what laws govern the release of an organisation's financial statements but I do not think it is the Data Protection Act. A private company isn't obliged to publish it's affairs openly but I believe that they must file a copy officially which are accessible via Companies House for a charge BUT it is not uncommon to find that such information is filed very late.

It would seem that if a union is run in the interest of member's interest access to information about the running of the organisation should be fairly easy to access.

[vctenderness]

The only nagging doubt I have about all of this is that BASSA is NOT a union - it is a branch.

The law requires Unite to provide a complete audited account of its finances to the Certification Office annually - which it does.

This would include all of the monies collected on its behalf by the branches.

This is why you will see that LM only received around £200 as expenses that is because it is only her expenses claimed as a member of the Unite Executive - nothing to do with BASSA.

The Unite rule book requires the branch to provide members with proper accounts of its funds.

In my opinion the members of BASSA are crazy not to insist that their funds are open and transparent and are available to inspect at any time at the meeting or at the offices.

I don't think there are any proper audited accounts to inspect.

[Rover90]

BASSA Accounts

The Unite rule book requires the branch to provide members with proper accounts of its funds.

BASSA as a branch are required to provide accounts to their members on an annual basis.

The annual BASSA accounts would form part of the audited UNITE return so would by definition be a component of their audited accounts.

Clearly the financial affairs of BASSA are in order as UNITE have published accounts for year end 2009.

A simple request from a paid up BASSA member for financial information about the branch would just require a copy of the relevant BASSA summary of accounts as provided to UNITE to be sent to the enquirer.

[MrBernoulli]

vctenderness, you wrote:

The only nagging doubt I have about all of this is that BASSA is NOT a union - it is a branch.

Not quite sure what you were doubting, but the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, Chapter III includes this (my italics):

30 Right of access to accounting records.

(1)A member of a trade union has a right to request access to any accounting records of the union which are available for inspection and relate to periods including a time when he was a member of the union.

In the case of records relating to a branch or section of the union, it is immaterial whether he was a member of that branch or section.

BASSA are required, by law, to produce accounts to a legal standard that can be incorporated within Unite's Annual Return. Unite's Annual Return is also subject to the same legal requirements.

BASSA must provide it's certified section accounts within 28 days to any member, or past member, requesting to view them. Simple! BASSA is also supposed to provide access to it's accounts on an annual basis to all it's members. Simple! Why is it that no BASSA members here can recall ever seeing validated accounts for BASSA? The law requires it!

[BASSAwitch]

While I await my request is there any chance that any of our colleagues in engineering can make similar requests?

As Mr Bernoulli says you do NOT have to be a member of any particular Unite branch to view the accounts of this particular branch. Any Unite member can ask to see BASSA's books. The more that do the better.

[harrypic]

For anyone fortunate enough to obtain these accounts, BASSA would of course be perfectly entitled to ask you to sign a confidentiallity agreement

[VintageKrug]

I think it's important there is a clear plan as to what to with the numbers if you are indeed granted access to them.

I doubt the summary accounts will reveal much of interest, for instance they are unlikely to reveal individual salaries; it would probably take a motion at a BASSA meeting (and there must be a monthly members' meeting, surely?) to have the detail of the accounts published to members.

[Litebulbs]

Or they are all normal and it will be apologies all round and another avenue will need to be found.

[ottergirl]

This whole 'accounts' thing feels a bit like a witch hunt to me; for some reason it feels like the wrong time to be pursuing it. Almost as if it's tit for tat! Anyone else getting the same feeling of disquiet?

[Litebulbs]

ottergirl

I agree with you, but no doubt many of those that contribute to both threads will see that as no surprise.

[Rover90]

The "whole accounts thing"

The "whole accounts thing" is a request to make verified summary BASSA accounts available for year end 2009 to any paid up UNITE member that requests such as required by law.

Hardly a big ask for the same BASSA members who have chipped in over £1.5million+ every year and have absolutely no idea where the money goes.

Simply mail out the two sheets of A4 soonest and that is job done.

[ottergirl]

I am quite aware what it is Rover90, what I am questioning is the timing. Why now? Tit for tat or genuine concern over real evidence about the veracity of the BASSA accounts?

[Litebulbs]

Rover

I am sure Bassa members can find information on their website on where the subs go. What would you say if the accounts showed that say £10K went to certain branch officials for expenses and loss due to de-rostering for union duties?

Those that are unhappy with the situation have left and are now saving £180 per year.

[Rover90]

about the veracity of the BASSA accounts?

That is the problem, I know of not one soul who has ever seen any BASSA accounts.

Simply make available two A4 sheets of verified* summary BASSA accounts year end 2009 soonest and that is job done.

It is only a problem if there is a problem.

and Litebulbs

if the accounts showed that say £10K went to certain branch officials for expenses and loss due to de-rostering for union duties?

With receipts of £1.5million+ that just leaves circa £1,490,000 to be accounted for. Clearly this shows that transparency is essential.

*Verified. As in signed off by an acknowledged firm of chartered accountants