Bargain Basement
A regular reader has been in touch about unwanted overtures from her former trade union - Unite.
Apparently Unite keeps asking the reader to sign up as a retired union member - at the bargain basement rate of only 25p a month.
Here's what the reader had to say:
"Dear Mark,
I finished work in March after working for the council for 22 years.
Since then I have had 3 letters and 3 phone calls from Unite asking me if I want to stay on as a member of the union for 25 pence a month.
Where were the trade unions when we put in our equal pay claims over 5 years ago?
They didnt want to know then, but they want to know me because all of a sudden they are looking for money.
ML"
Now I couldn't have put this better myself.
Because the trade unions have behaved shamefully over equal pay - turning a blind eye to what was going on for years - instead of standing up for their low paid women members.
But I am intrigued by this knock down offer of union membership - what do retired Unite members get for just £3 a year?
Maybe this is just a way of boosting Unite's membership figures - which are used, for example, to determine the union's voting strength - at the annual TUC and Labour party conferences
Does any of the 25 pence per month go towards Unite's Labour affiliation?
If so, I think we should be told - as should the members.
So if other any readers have information to share, drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com
Apparently Unite keeps asking the reader to sign up as a retired union member - at the bargain basement rate of only 25p a month.
Here's what the reader had to say:
"Dear Mark,
I finished work in March after working for the council for 22 years.
Since then I have had 3 letters and 3 phone calls from Unite asking me if I want to stay on as a member of the union for 25 pence a month.
Where were the trade unions when we put in our equal pay claims over 5 years ago?
They didnt want to know then, but they want to know me because all of a sudden they are looking for money.
ML"
Now I couldn't have put this better myself.
Because the trade unions have behaved shamefully over equal pay - turning a blind eye to what was going on for years - instead of standing up for their low paid women members.
But I am intrigued by this knock down offer of union membership - what do retired Unite members get for just £3 a year?
Maybe this is just a way of boosting Unite's membership figures - which are used, for example, to determine the union's voting strength - at the annual TUC and Labour party conferences
Does any of the 25 pence per month go towards Unite's Labour affiliation?
If so, I think we should be told - as should the members.
So if other any readers have information to share, drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com
