Tories slated over 'union bashing'

Published on Sunday 29 August 2010 16:00

AN EDUCATION union clashed with the Tories yesterday over claims money is being "splashed out" to cover teachers' time off for official duties.

More than 868,000 was spent over five years at eight of Scotland's 32 councils to cover absences for trade union activity, according to figures released by the Scottish Conservatives.

The party said this raises questions over who should foot the bill for unions during a time of tight public finances.

The Educational Institute for Scotland, the largest teaching union in the country, accused the Tories of a return to the "union bashing agenda".

EIS general secretary Ronnie Smith said the figures were "inconsistent" and added: "It is also difficult to accept such an attack on the valuable work of public sector union reps from a party whose own MSPs, all 17 of them, racked up collective expense claims of over 200,000, on top of already generous salaries, in the last year alone."

He said public sector reps save the country money by ensuring fewer dismissals, less disruption and resignations.

Mr Smith added: "It is a pity that the Scottish Tories are stuck in the past, and clinging to the old Thatcherite union-bashing agenda."