Funding for union posts cut by Lancashire County Council

Funding for five trade union officials seconded to Lancashire County Council has been axed
County Coun  Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County CouncilCounty Coun  Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council
County Coun Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council

The move, which will save the council £153,682 a year, has been labelled ‘a false economy’ by unions.

The cut was agreed by the council’s employment committee. Speaking following the decision, council leader Geoff Driver said:“At a time when the council is facing an unprecedented financial challenge, we simply cannot afford to fund these posts.

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“We will, of course, honour our statutory obligations and allow reasonable time off for union officials to fulfil their duties.”

County Hall, PrestonCounty Hall, Preston
County Hall, Preston

The council says it understands it will now face indirect costs for union staff.

There are currently six full-time trade union representatives at county hall, five of them paid for by the council. The sixth post, the Lancashire Unison branch secretary role, is funded by the public services union.

In a submission to the committee, a joint trade union statement advised unions would not be prepared to pay for secondments when employers had a statutory duty to grant paid time off for union work. Union Branch Secretary Elaine Cotterell said: “Clearly it’s a false economy. It’s going to be more disruptive.”

She predicted it would take longer for staff consultations and disciplinary negotiations and that union officials would have to be reintegrated into their jobs from next April.