Campaigns News

Aberdeenshire Council stands with the unions against the Trade Union Bill and will not end facility time and check-off

Right to strikeThe Partnership Administration of Aberdeenshire Council has written to the Branch to confirm that they support the continuation of check-off (whereby union members can pay their union subscriptions from their salary) and also support facility time.

They have stated that “the Partnership has no intention of supporting the use of agency staff in the unlikely event of any industrial action.”

The Branch has welcomed this commitment from the Partnership Administration and looks forward to working alongside them to defeat the Trade Union Bill.

The full text of the letter is below.

It comes as CoSLA, the umbrella body for councils in Scotland also pledged “to stand shoulder to shoulder with their trade union colleagues against the UK Government’s Trade Union Bill.”

28th Sept 2015

Dear Inez,

Thank you very much for writing to us about the Trade Union Bill.

The Partnership Administration of Aberdeenshire Council values the excellent and mutually respectful way of working from which employer, employees and residents all benefit in Aberdeenshire.

We share your concerns that the Trade Union Bill, being proposed by the Westminster Government, will have a detrimental effect on relations between the Council and employee representatives.

The Partnership believes that union representatives need facility time in which to conduct their legitimate business.  The current system of check-off has advantages for all involved, and we support its continuation.

Furthermore, the Partnership has no intention of supporting the use of agency staff in the unlikely event of any industrial action.

It is our wish that Aberdeenshire Council should be able to carry on working alongside the local unions as it has always done.

Best regards,
Richard Thomson – Leader of the SNP Group, Aberdeenshire
Alison Evison – Leader of the Scottish Leader Group, Aberdeenshire
Martin Kitts-Hayes – Leader of the Progressive Independents, Aberdeenshire