Trade Union Bill

Debate between Tom Blenkinsop and Ian Mearns

Tuesday 10th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Tom Blenkinsop]

Depending on the union, unions can have several political funds. For example, Unison does, which goes back to agreements made when the National Union of Public Employees and the National and Local Government Officers Association amalgamated.

[Ian Mearns]

Don’t forget COHSE.

[Tom Blenkinsop]

They amalgamated with the Confederation of Health Service Employees, as my hon. Friend says. The legislation does not recognise internal agreements that have been reached over decades.

Trade Union Bill (Sixth sitting)

Debate between Tom Blenkinsop and Ian Mearns

Tuesday 20th October 2015 Public Bill Committees

[Tom Blenkinsop]

As a former trade union officer with the Community trade union, I was part of the National League of the Blind and the Disabled section, which deals with blind and disabled workers who work in Remploy factories—

[Ian Mearns]

Who used to work in Remploy factories.

[Tom Blenkinsop]

Sadly, that is right. My section also dealt with blind and disabled people working in sheltered workplaces, including at Ayresome Industries in Middlesbrough. As well as union officers, the unions brought in, over a prolonged period, signers and Braille writers to ensure that those employees were informed of the situation and the exact nature of any dispute.