Agenda item

“Council notes the Conservative Government is proposing a Trade Union Bill that will restrict the ability of this Council to engage in good industrial relations practices with our workforce and their representatives.

Council believes the collection of union dues through the check-off arrangement, from which the Council receives income, is part of the Council’s collective and contractual arrangements with the trades unions, which the Council will defend and support.

Council commits not to use agency staff to break or weaken industrial action and to continue to support arrangements that afford trade union representatives sufficient resources to enable them to carry out their functions to ensure the continuation of good industrial relations.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the Council’s opposition to this Bill and any attacks on facility time or check off.”

The Council had before it the following notice of motion by Councillor Laing:-

            “Council notes the Conservative Government is proposing a Trade Union Bill that will restrict the ability of this Council to engage in good industrial relations practices with our workforce and their representatives.

Council believes the collection of union dues through the check-off arrangement, from which the Council receives income, is part of the Council’s collective and contractual arrangements with the trades unions, which the Council will defend and support.

Council commits not to use agency staff to break or weaken industrial action and to continue to support arrangements that afford trade union representatives sufficient resources to enable them to carry out their functions to ensure the continuation of good industrial relations.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the Council’s opposition to this Bill and any attacks on facility time or check off.”

The Council also had before it the following notice of motion by Councillor Jackie Dunbar:-

            “Council values the excellent and mutually respectful working relationship which it has with both the workforce and their Trade Unions.

Council considers this positive relationship to be one which benefits both workers and the city alike and respects the need for Trade Union representatives to use facility time to conduct their legitimate business. Council supports the collection of dues through the check-off arrangement, from which the Council receives income, and defends these Trade Union arrangements.

Council believes that the Trade Union Bill, proposed by the current Conservative UK Government, but not yet law, will restrict the ability of this Council to engage in good industrial relations practices with our workforce and their Trade Union representatives.

Council commits not to use agency staff to break or weaken industrial action in relation to this matter, requests the Council Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the Council’s opposition to this Bill and our resolve not to willingly co-operate with any attacks on facility time or check-off and to demand that the income which will be lost to the Council, should this draconian bill be passed, is reimbursed.”

Councillor Laing intimated that she had spoken with Councillor Jackie Dunbar and they had agreed to put forward a joint notice of motion in the following terms:-

“Council notes the Conservative Government is proposing a Trade Union Bill that will restrict the ability of this Council to engage in good industrial relations practices with our workforce and their representatives.

Council believes the collection of union dues through the check-off arrangement, from which the Council receives income, is part of the Council’s collective and contractual arrangements with the trades unions, which the Council will defend and support.

Council commits not to use agency staff to break or weaken industrial action and to continue to support arrangements that afford trade union representatives sufficient resources to enable them to carry out their functions to ensure the continuation of good industrial relations.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the Council’s opposition to this Bill, any attacks on facility time or check off and to demand that the income which will be lost to the Council, should this draconian Bill be passed, is reimbursed.”

Councillor Laing moved, seconded by Councillor Jackie Dunbar:-

That the Council approve the terms of the joint motion as outlined above.

Councillor Thomson moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Donnelly:-

That the Council note the process that the Trade Union Bill is following through Parliament and agree to take no action.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

During the course of debate, Councillor Copland declared an interest as a former trade union representative within the Council. Councillor Copland did not consider that the nature of his interest required him to leave the meeting.

During the course of summing up, Councillor Laing agreed to accept as an addendum to her motion, that the Council further instruct the Chief Executive to write to the spokespersons for Business, Innovation and Skills of all political parties within the UK Parliament in the terms outlined above, and this was accepted.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (38)  -  Lord Provost; and Councillors Allan, Cameron, Carle, Cooney, Copland, Corall, Cormie, Crockett, Delaney, Dickson, Jackie Dunbar, Lesley Dunbar, Flynn, Graham, Grant, Greig, Hutchison, Ironside, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Laing, Lawrence, MacGregor, Malik, Malone, Milne, Jean Morrison, Nathan Morrison, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Jennifer Stewart, Sandy Stuart, Taylor, Townson, Young and Yuill.

For the amendment  (2)  -  Councillors Donnelly and Thomson.

Declined to vote  (3)  -  Depute Provost; and Councillors Boulton and Finlayson.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion with the addendum as outlined above.