Council defends renting buildings to unions

OLDHAM Council has defended renting out council-owned property to trade unions.

Research by the TaxPayer’s Alliance found public bodies such as local authorities provide trade union representatives with office space.

Figures from the campaign group showed Oldham Council rented out 2,014 square feet of office space to trade union rep - the highest figure in Greater Manchester.

Oldham rents a unit at Manchester Chambers to Unison and an office at the Business and Enterprise Hub to the NUT. The council contributes £2,000 toward the the £9,000pa cost of Manchester Chambers while thNUT pays the whole £3,600 rent at the BEH

Councillor Aldul Jabbar said: “As part of our support for the work unions do on behalf of council workers we make a contribution towards the rental cost of one building. Providing facilities is in line with other authorities, given that we are party to national and local agreements.”