Tories plan to scrap paid leave for union reps in cost-cutting drive
The Conservative Party has pledged to scrap the legal requirement for employers to offer paid time off for union representatives.
Tory shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith will announce the policy on Monday, which he says will free up taxpayer cash to be spent on cutting NHS waiting lists and filling potholes.
Union reps are currently entitled to take paid time off to receive training and carry out work for their unions, which includes attending pay negotiations and union meetings.
Employers are required to allow 'reasonable' time off as long as the worker's union is independent and officially recognised by their employer.
Griffith will appear at the Margaret Thatcher Conference run by conservative think tank the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) on Monday.
The shadow business secretary will say the right for paid time off for union reps has 'got to go'.
He will say: 'If businesses want to offer it, they are of course free to do so, but we will no longer use the force of law at a cost to jobs and competitiveness.'
'In the public sector we have a responsibility to go one step further. Every penny of taxpayer's money should be spent on cutting waiting lists, helping children learn, fixing potholes and public services for taxpayers. Not on trade unions.'
The Tories claim this policy will save £100m a year, totalling £500m across the course of the next parliament.
Kemi Badenoch's party says it will allow trade union reps to accompany workers to employment meetings, but it will also expand this right to other 'qualified representatives' in instances where these meetings become a 'closed shop'.
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