12.10.1995

Press slanders union boss

ACCORDING TO the Sunday Telegraph, “The majority of union leaders are now earning well over three times more than those they represent.” The Association of University Teachers was so stung by this comment that it is appealing to the Press Complaints Commission, on the grounds that its general secretary, Dr Joanna de Groot, only gets twice the average salary of her members. A mere £50,000 a year. Still, it is not much of a sacrifice, especially when £71 per day subsistence allowance and travel expenses are added.

These kinds of pay rates allow union leaders to almost enjoy the life style of the bosses they negotiate with, rather than share the problems of the workers they are meant to represent. All union members should know exactly what their union officials earn and it should be no more than the average wage of their members.