Barking Yourself

I had an enquiry from a new reader of the blog site the other day.

A trade union member whose trade union says they can't take up an equal pay claim - because the person concerned failed to register their own claim with the Employment Tribunals some years ago.

If I understand the position correctly, the union is saying that anyone who failed to follow the union's advice to register their own individual claim - is now on their own.

Which sounds a bit barking mad to me - because that's what members pay their contributions - so that they can get help when they need help.

Now if a trade union is negotiating for its members on pay or calling for strike action - for example - they they don't expect union members to act individually.

Because that would be completely stupid - instead the unions act collectively on behalf of their members.

So why in the world should a big, well resourced trade union - put the onus on individual members to submit their own equal pay claims?

Seems to me that's a bit like having a dog and barking yourself - in other words - completely daft.

And it's yet another reason why trade unions should have to account for their actions and behaviour if a union members complains - to an independent regulator.

In much the same way that happens in many other walks of life - where the ability to complain to an outside, independent body is taken for granted.