Scottish government announces fund for union modernisation


Scottish trade unionists have welcomed a new £250,000 Scottish government fund to help unions modernise and to mitigate the negative impact of the Trade Union Act 2016.


Launching the Trade Union Modernisation Fund, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the fund would “ensure that the time of union reps is not needlessly diverted to legislation compliance administration but can remain committed to supporting their members and innovation in the workplace through the Fair Work Framework”. The framework was drawn up by Scotland’s tripartite Fair Work Convention, which involves government, employers and unions.


Sturgeon’s announcement, made at a bilateral meeting between Scottish government ministers and the STUC, follows other initiatives coming out of the work of the convention, including the government’s award of £100,000 to the STUC in 2015 to support projects developing the role of trade unions in the workplace.


STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said that the Scottish government “has again demonstrated its commitment to positive industrial relations through workplace democracy”.

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