Request
I am writing to obtain information about the total amount of money paid to trade unions by East Midlands Strategic Health Authority and the amount of staff time spent on union activities by East Midlands Strategic Health Authority employees.
To outline my query as clearly as possible, I am requesting:
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The total amount of money paid to all trade unions for financial periods 2008-09 and 2009-10. Where possible this should be broken down by the individual payments to each trade union by name, however if this disaggregated information is not available please continue to provide a total figure for union payments.
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The amount of paid staff time, in terms of full-time equivalent staff numbers (FTE), spent working on behalf of a trade union – this is sometimes called ‘Trade Union facility time’ - in the financial periods 2008-09 and 2009-10. Where possible this should be broken down by each trade union by name, however if this disaggregated information is not available please continue to provide a total figure for staff time.
Our response
I refer to your email of 25 May requesting information in respect of money paid to trade unions by NHS East Midlands.
I can confirm in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do hold some of the information that you have requested. I will address each of your queries in turn:-
The total amount of money paid to all trade unions for financial periods 2008-09 and 2009-10. Where possible this should be broken down by the individual payments to each trade union by name, however if this disaggregated information is not available please continue to provide a total figure for union payments.
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During the last 2 years, the only payments NHS East Midlands has made to the unions as a body, apart from paying over staff union subscriptions via our payroll services provider, are as follows:
March 2009
£20,000 to Unison for a Regional Public Health worker (18 month contract)
£1,500 to the Royal College of Nursing, part-funding towards publication of a report on prison
healthcare (other NHS organisations also contributed).
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The amount of paid staff time, in terms of full-time equivalent staff numbers (FTE), spent working on behalf of a trade union – this is sometimes called ‘Trade Union facility time’ - in the financial periods 2008-09 and 2009-10. Where possible this should be broken down by each trade union by name, however if this disaggregated information is not available please continue to provide a total figure for staff time.
NHS East Midlands does not routinely collect this information.
I hope that this information is of use. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review our decision by writing to:-
Mr Moosa Patel
Director of Corporate Affairs
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
If at the conclusion of any review you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at:-
The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
