Council Leader reveals how Shropshire taxpayers’ money funds trade union push for strike action

 As one of the county’s largest employers, Shropshire Council is committed to the benefits of collective bargaining with its diverse range of staff.  In addition to recognising a number of trade unions, the Council provides reasonable time off from their jobs for union representatives to do their business on behalf of their members. 

But Leader of the Council, Councillor Keith Barrow, has questioned whether this represents good use of public money in all cases.  Talking about UNISON’s recent ballot of its members in support of industrial action, which would disrupt public services for local people, Councillor Barrow said: 

“Trade Unions have an important role to play in helping the Council make positive changes to improve our services and make our hard-working staff even more productive.  But, at a time when we are cutting our costs, it cannot be right that UNISON is using the funding the Council provides to support its activities, to build up a war chest to generate support for its members. 

“The local people I have mentioned this to find it astonishing that UNISON receives a subsidy of close to £100,000 a year from the Council.  The funding covers salaries of the UNISON branch’s two full-time officials, a part time post and use of offices and a social club at Shirehall. 

“This is much more than the support we provide for any other trade union.  It has meant that UNISION are able to take out full page advertisements in the local press, urging their members to take strike action over changes in the Council which are designed to protect local jobs and essential services. 

“Now that more people are aware of this, as part off our moves to make Council funding decisions more open and transparent, there can be a healthy debate about what is good value for local people. 

“It cannot be right that such public funding frees up money to be used by the UNISON on political campaigns.  It would be better spent on extra care workers for the elderly or staff for our excellent children’s centres.” 

Councillor Barrow has confirmed that he is seeking a quick way to reduce UNISON’s funding from the Council significantly.  This would bring it into line with the level of support provided to other trade unions locally.