Barnet Council proposal to remove all facility time for trade unions

Local

Councillor Robert Rams speaking at Budget Scrutiny 26.11.2013

Video clip is here http://youtu.be/-7dTF6Kmej8

Below is a transcript from the above video clip.

“ I come from a completely different standpoint on this I think that they should be able to do their job without any funding whatsoever ….I think there are lots of examples of councils, authorities across London across the country that provide no funding for activity and I believe we should be moving to a model were we don’t provide any funding for union activity, I think as I stated before if we are looking to make cuts out there, there are some difficult decisions, I think it is clear area  we can make even more savings, the proposals provide a generous amount of funding, over generous in my personal view towards the service I think as we go forward and tougher decisions are made we will get to the point where we will remove all funding.………………………

I don’t think the work they do needs to be funded by us, they do some excellent work and as I said they are some other authorities I organisations across London, but trade unions provide an excellent service to their members by no means do I denigrate their work the unions do, they provide an excellent service to their members……….I think there is enough ability for them to do it whilst carrying on doing their work for the council”

Key Facts

 

  • UNISON have been informed the LBB annual Council staff pay bill 2013/14 (excluding schools) is approximately £55,000,000
  • The current Trade Union Facility Time cost for 2013/14 is £112,000
  • The proposed cut of £80,000 in Trade Union Facility Time for 2014/15 leaves £32,000
  • The Trade Union Facility Time as % of pay bill in 2013/14 equates to 0.20%
  • The Trade Union Facility Time as % of pay bill in 2014/15 equates to 0.06%
  • The reduction of 80K for 2014/15 from 112K represents massive 71.4% cut from the current (2013/14) budget.
  • Trade Union Facility time has already been cut by 66% from the level agreed under the former Barnet Council Conservative Leader Mike Freer.