SNP council’s U-turn on facility time cut
The SNP-led West Dunbartonshire Council has performed a dramatic U-turn on its decision to slash trade union facility time. A week after gaining the support of Tories on the council to cut convenor posts from 3.4 to two, the council leader reversed the decision.
First minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon had earlier described cutting facility time as “a false economy”, but the council had pressed ahead anyway. The four unions affected — Unite, UNISON, GMB and the EIS teaching union — had vowed to continue to fight the cut, which it said was a prelude to further austerity measures.
The council U-turn was announced just minutes before Sturgeon was due to address the STUC Congress. She told delegates: “Facility time is a vital part of any fair work agenda. It’s not just important to trade unions. It’s important to the organisations that employ workers as well.”