Trust defends union time for NHS staff

PENNINE Care NHS Foundation Trust has defended a decision to allow staff time off to take part in union activities.

The news follows Taxpayers’ Alliance complaints that union business is being subsidised to the tune of £108million in public money as employees take leagally-sanctioned paid work time to undertake union business.

Richard Spearing, director of service development for the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Pennine Care has a legal duty to allow staff reasonable time off to be involved in union duties.

“The trust welcomes the involvement of union representatives in decisions with a direct impact on employees.”.