Filton Labour reiterate union partnership
Filton Labour party have re-iterated their strong partnership with the union Unite.
Chair of Filton Labour branch and Filton town councillor, Brian Mead, raised the point at a recent town council meeting after some councillors raised concerns that a contract signed with Unite for a learning agreement was unclear.
Mr Mead said he wanted to make it clear after some councillors had seemed confused that the council have the formal relationship with the union and that staff were entitled to be union members. Mr Mead also declared his interest in Unite, of which he is a member.
Last month, Steve Preddy, the Unite union representative who has been working with the council and signed the learning contract with them, lambasted the council for what he called "successive administration failing to introduce management practices". Mr Mead made no reference to this criticism or what action the council may take as a result and the council, which carries a Labour majority, have made no comment.
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Independent councillor, Brian Freeguard, pointed out to Mr Mead that whilst the council have a duty as an employer to recognise union membership, as a council it should not influence council decisions. He said he had been a Unite member in the past.
Conservative councillor Anne Kenyon said she had raised the issue that on Labour councillors had seemed to be aware of the signing of the agreement with the publication in local magazine Filton Voice recently and other had not been aware of the article.
Conservative Rikki Teml, pointed out to district Labour councillor Ian Scott and Filton Labour party, that reports to council each month were reflecting more an more political point scoring rather than community beneficial information. He said that parish councils were there for the good of the community and therefore should be non political.
Comments
by MarkWhites
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 6:10PM
“comrades in arms! Ask yourself whats in it for Unite? How much are they going to make from this? No wonder Filton Labour party voted to discuss filton town council matters in private are their meetings, its so they can plot against the council....”
by Tinaishere
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 11:33AM
“a parish council should not be signing agreements with a union! if they need training then the council should provide it. it sounds like the labour filton party are taking over the council. i dont think they have a clue how to manage a leisure centre or a bar and they have go away with it for years.”
by Joke_Bristol
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 11:18AM
“A councillor should represent the people of his ward, not his union paymaster.”
by Labourstitch
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 10:54AM
“Brothers unite! funny isnt it how the chair of labour branch is happy to talk about his devotion to a union that publicly attacks their performance and who they jump into bed with.
Then his comrade and branch secretary, cuncillor Hutchinson, is alleged to have bullied a decent councillor out of Filton labour branch and Mr mead does nothing!
They keep all that from the Filton public, but hapy to push the union secret handshakes...you decide...”
by BobMoone
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 10:36AM
“well said mr freeguard and teml...for a council to have an association with Unite after mr preddys attack on them is disgusting, whats even worse is they sweep it under the carpet, they certainly are all in it together arent they!”