As regular
readers (Sid and Doris Blogger) will be aware, this blog has some familiarity
with the work of the Certification
Officer, a long established role with various quasi-regulatory powers in
connection with trade unions.
Among the many
unfortunate things done by the Trade Union
Act 2016, the Certification Officer has been given powers (for which, as
far as I know they had never asked, nor had anyone else asked for them to be
given such powers) proactively to initiate investigations into trade unions –
and to impose fines upon trade unions for various breaches, the remedies for
which are – at present – declarations and enforcement orders.
This is an
unnecessary further restriction upon the rights of our trade unions – and quite
absurd. If, for example, a trade union has breaches statutory rules concerning
the election of its Executive or General Secretary then the people who have
been wronged are the members of the trade union (from whose subscriptions any
fine will be paid into the public purse). As someone who has, with a heavy
heart, brought a complaint to the Certification Officer about just
such a matter, I am quite clear that a fine levied on the Union would be no
sort of remedy at all.
The Government
are currently consulting on the level of such fines – so you can have
your say (for what good it may do).
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