Labour Cheerleaders? (07/09/15)

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Here's what I said to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in Scotland over the GMB's recruitment practices which require potential job applicants to campaign for the Labour Party.

Now what's that has to do with a Union Organiser's job is beyond me because other than ion very particular circumstances trade unions are supposed to transcend politics, instead of acting as cheerleaders for Labour. 

So I'll be interested to see what the EHRC has to say.


Dear EHRC 

GMB Scotland

I would like to register a complaint with EHRC Scotland over the recruitment practices of the GMB trade union.

I wrote to the GMB general secretary, Sir Paul Kenny, on 24 July 2015 and again on 10 August 2015 raising my concerns about the union's recruitment practices which I believe to be discriminatory and unlawful. Copies of both of my letters to the GMB   are attached for information.

As a former trade union official myself, latterly as Unison's Head of Local Government in Scotland, I fail to see how the GMB can legitimately insist that potential candidates for a non-specialist job such as Union Organiser must be willing to work in the interests of the Labour Party.

To my mind this job criterion specified by the GMB is a flagrant breach of UK equality legislation which makes it unlawful to deny a potential employee a job because they do not share their prospective employer's political beliefs. 

I have not received a reply from Sir Paul and so  I would now like to complain directly to EHRC Scotland and would ask you take the  matter up on my behalf.

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Kind regards



Mark Irvine

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