Pilgrims

There was a recent parliamentary debate on Pilgrims. Not those who fled for America in the 16th Century. The reference here is to Jane Pilgrim, a health-assistant who worked full-time for her union whilst effectively employed as a nurse. Legal? Absolutely. But is it right?

I have been a union member. When, as a hobby I worked as a tour guide I joined Amicus. My membership included a generous public liability insurance and I knew the union would help me if one of my tourists took a plunge down the steps of the British Museum.

Trade unionism is not, despite some lazy assumptions, an anathema to Conservatives. In fact, a third of trade unionists are Conservative voters and within the party there is a clear acceptance that moderate trade unionism can be a powerful force for good.

Most people assume that unions are funded solely by their subscriptions but a Freedom of Information request sent to 1,253 public sector organisations revealed that in 2010 trade unions received £85.8-million from public sector organisations, of which £18.3-million was in direct payments (made under the union modernisation fund and union learning fund) and £67.5-million was in paid staff time — ie, the value of staff paid for by their organisations but allowed to undertake union work. In 2009-10, 2,493 full-time equivalent public sector employees worked for unions at the taxpayers' expense.

I have no problem with paid union representatives and officials provided that it is the unions and not the public purse that do the paying.

A YouGov poll for the TaxPayers' Alliance indicates that more than half of us want to see an end to the practice of public sector-funded trade union officials. I would like to know what you think — you can drop me a line at [email protected]">[email protected]