Paid £150,000 To Do Nothing!
While members of the Unite trade union are still fighting for equal pay - their leaders seem to have other things on their minds.
Here's a report about more union in-fighting from today's Observer - you can read the full article on-line at: http://www.observer.guardian.co.uk/
"Gordon Brown's former spin doctor under fire over continuing strife at 'super union'
A leading official at the strife-torn "super union", Unite, has received a full pay and perks package worth about £150,000 for doing nothing since he was ousted almost two years ago by Charlie Whelan, Gordon Brown's former spin doctor.
The Observer can reveal that Mike Griffiths, the union's former national political officer, has received his full £65,000 salary, kept his union car and been paid expenses since he was given his marching orders by Whelan in autumn 2007.
The treatment of Griffiths, a respected official who was a candidate for the job of Labour party general-secretary last year, has infuriated Labour MPs, who say it is the latest evidence of turmoil at Unite since Whelan's appointment as political director.
Whelan faced grievance proceedings last year from two members of staff who submitted a statement as part of their complaint referring to "a real culture of fear and a climate of bullying that he [Whelan] allows to take place in his department". Whelan has denied all accusations of bullying.
Friends of Griffiths, who is a member of Labour's national executive committee and incurs some expenses as a result, confirmed last night that he has not done any work for Unite during more than 20 months of "gardening leave", after being told by Whelan that his face did not fit. But he remains on the payroll.
"Charlie just said to him he was not wanted any more and so he was sent away and told to do nothing. But they couldn't find a reason to get rid of him so he is still on full pay with car and expenses," said a union ally.
At least one other former employee of Unite's political section has been paid off at substantial cost to the union following a lengthy dispute with the former spin doctor.
The revelations will fuel anger within the union movement at the way Unite funds are being used, as delegates head to the TUC conference which opens in Liverpool today.
Earlier this year Unite's joint general secretary, Derek Simpson, who is close to Whelan, had to defend his stay in a £399-a-night suite at the Waldorf, one of London's most luxurious hotels, for a four-day union executive meeting in the capital.
Simpson, who has attacked bankers for their "gold-plated pensions, golden handshakes and huge rewards for failure", has an £800,000 home, provided by the union, in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, which is a 35-minute journey from where the meeting took place.
Simpson's officials justified the stay by saying that he had to attend several late night meetings and that he could not be expected to travel home every evening after they had finished.
Labour MPs, many of whom are funded by the union, were privately scathing about the way Whelan and Simpson have behaved. "The whole thing is an absolute disgrace. It is completely shambolic," said one."
What a waste of the members' money - and what about the General Secretary staying in a super luxurious £399-a-night hotel?
You really couldn't make it up.
Here's a report about more union in-fighting from today's Observer - you can read the full article on-line at: http://www.observer.guardian.co.uk/
"Gordon Brown's former spin doctor under fire over continuing strife at 'super union'
A leading official at the strife-torn "super union", Unite, has received a full pay and perks package worth about £150,000 for doing nothing since he was ousted almost two years ago by Charlie Whelan, Gordon Brown's former spin doctor.
The Observer can reveal that Mike Griffiths, the union's former national political officer, has received his full £65,000 salary, kept his union car and been paid expenses since he was given his marching orders by Whelan in autumn 2007.
The treatment of Griffiths, a respected official who was a candidate for the job of Labour party general-secretary last year, has infuriated Labour MPs, who say it is the latest evidence of turmoil at Unite since Whelan's appointment as political director.
Whelan faced grievance proceedings last year from two members of staff who submitted a statement as part of their complaint referring to "a real culture of fear and a climate of bullying that he [Whelan] allows to take place in his department". Whelan has denied all accusations of bullying.
Friends of Griffiths, who is a member of Labour's national executive committee and incurs some expenses as a result, confirmed last night that he has not done any work for Unite during more than 20 months of "gardening leave", after being told by Whelan that his face did not fit. But he remains on the payroll.
"Charlie just said to him he was not wanted any more and so he was sent away and told to do nothing. But they couldn't find a reason to get rid of him so he is still on full pay with car and expenses," said a union ally.
At least one other former employee of Unite's political section has been paid off at substantial cost to the union following a lengthy dispute with the former spin doctor.
The revelations will fuel anger within the union movement at the way Unite funds are being used, as delegates head to the TUC conference which opens in Liverpool today.
Earlier this year Unite's joint general secretary, Derek Simpson, who is close to Whelan, had to defend his stay in a £399-a-night suite at the Waldorf, one of London's most luxurious hotels, for a four-day union executive meeting in the capital.
Simpson, who has attacked bankers for their "gold-plated pensions, golden handshakes and huge rewards for failure", has an £800,000 home, provided by the union, in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, which is a 35-minute journey from where the meeting took place.
Simpson's officials justified the stay by saying that he had to attend several late night meetings and that he could not be expected to travel home every evening after they had finished.
Labour MPs, many of whom are funded by the union, were privately scathing about the way Whelan and Simpson have behaved. "The whole thing is an absolute disgrace. It is completely shambolic," said one."
What a waste of the members' money - and what about the General Secretary staying in a super luxurious £399-a-night hotel?
You really couldn't make it up.
