On the day that the consultation into union-leeches is launched, Unison have put out a report about facilities time. In a complete shock the union-funded research has found that unions taking money off the taxpayer can only be a good thing. Needless to say it’s full of holes, but nice of them to show their hand…
Dave Prentis’ cronies are arguing that union bods in the workplace save money. This is fundamentally dishonest as it only takes into account one side of the picture. For every full-time pilgrim teacher, nurse or back-room pen-pusher that takes time off, the taxpayer has to pick up the tab twice by paying someone else to cover for them. For full-time pilgrims, the state ends up paying double the staffing costs.
This is not factored in to Unison’s hearsay case-study puff piece.
The consultation does not seek to end union officials being given time off, but the real question that needs to be addressed is why they should be paid out of public money when they are not on the job? Union members pay membership fees, the cost of pilgrims should be met from that.
It’s very simple.
UPDATE: It seems it is pilgrim day today. Cabinet Office sources are making all sorts of new information available this afternoon:
Overall there are a staggering 10,000 civil servants doing trade union work during paid hours, that’s 1 in 40 of the total civil service workforce. Unbelievable…
UPDATE II:
TURC welcomes this morning's Cabinet Office consultation launch on facility time. Preparing our submission.
— Trade Union Reform (@TURCPress) July 13, 2012