Star date: 15th March 2016

SALFORD COUNCIL TO IMPOSE TRADE UNION CUTS

Salford's Labour Council, which voted against local Conservative Party proposals to cut trade union `facility' time only last month, is now trying to force the unions to accept a reduction in hours for its elected members.

With Jeremy Corbyn due to visit Salford Civic Centre on Thursday, Salford UNISON, Unite and GMB unions are calling on the Labour Party Leader to intervene. The trades unions have until 4th April to agree to the restrictions – one of the last acts of retiring Salford Mayor Ian Stewart.

Full details here...

Only last month, Salford's Labour councillors were up in arms when the Conservative Party opposition put forward proposals, as part of its `alternative budget', to cut facility time for elected trade union officers to represent their members. Labour councillors also declared their support for trade unions against the Government's intention to cut union facilities through the controversial Trade Union Bill.

Now, Salford's Labour Council is to impose its own reductions in hours for the trade unions, which are to come into effect on 4th April. The Council wants to slash time for the three trade unions – UNISON, Unite and GMB – from 162 hours per week to 108 hours per week, together with restrictions on the use of those hours.

"Our trade unions provide support for some of the lowest paid and most vulnerable workers in Salford" says Steven North, branch secretary of UNISON "Our officers give up a lot of their own time to promote decent wages and fair working practices. Despite its stated commitment to extending good standards for workers, the City Council wants to end its support for the people who are delivering on things like the Living Wage and an end to zero contracts. We are calling on all Labour politicians to intervene to stop this madness."

The timing couldn't be worse for Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart, who's stepping down from the role in May, and is due to give a presentation at tomorrow's full council meeting on his `successes'.

Stewart, like many Labour councillors, is sponsored by Unite trade union, as is Labour Party mayoral candidate, Paul Dennett, who states on his campaign leaflet "As a proud trade unionist, I believe we are stronger when we work together, stand together and look out for one another..."

Unite is now fuming at the Council's proposals... "In these times when the trdae unions are being called upon to spend more time representing our members and attending strategic meetings, I feel that a reduction in facilities time is unacceptable" says its rep Scott Henderson.

Labour Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is due at Salford Civic Centre on Thursday to gee up the Party's local election and Mayor campaign. The unions are now calling on him to intervene to stop what they see as an attack on trade unions by Salford City Council.

The three unions are also asking their members to join them at 5pm on Thursday 17th March at Swinton British Legion to decide where to go next, if local politicians cannot resolve the issue by then....