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LAST WEEK, we reported that the election for the position of FBU regional secretary for Scotland had been suspended just 15 minutes before the close of balloting. The controversial decision to halt the high-profile election – which came just days after the equally contentious decision to suspend the region’s executive council member, Chris McGlone, on… Continue reading REVEALED: how FBU head office misled Scottish members over suspension of regional secretary election

FOLLOWING NEWS EARLIER this week that the FBU’s executive council member for the Scottish region, Chris McGlone, had been suspended from office, there is fresh controversy in the region after the union’s head office suspended the election for the key post of regional secretary just 15 minutes before it was due to close. There were… Continue reading Fresh controversy in Scotland as regional secretary election is suspended just FIFTEEN MINUTES before declaration of result

THE FBU’s executive council (EC) member for the Scottish region, Chris McGlone, has been suspended from office. McGlone, seen as a critic of the current leadership, has served on the EC since 2015. It has been reported that he was suspended by the union’s vice-president, Ben Selby. Selby is known to be a close ally… Continue reading Suspension of FBU executive council member for Scotland: here’s what we know

REGULAR READERS WILL be aware of the long-running saga over a request by an FBU member (and member of the Campaign for a Democratic FBU steering committee) to inspect the accounts of the union. By law, all trade union members are entitled to inspect the accounting records of their union – and unions are required… Continue reading FBU leadership hires top barrister in latest bid to block financial transparency

LAST WEEK, we reported on how the FBU leadership had, at the eleventh hour, pulled the plug on a planned inspection of the union’s accounts by a member. The leadership had demanded the member sign a ‘confidentiality agreement’ – in reality a secrecy agreement – before permitting the inspection to take place. When the member… Continue reading Trade union regulator tells FBU leadership: You are in the wrong over accounts dispute

Last-minute cancellation of inspection is latest in series of desperate attempts by leadership to block scrutiny of spending decisions Secrecy agreement “designed to impede accountability and transparency” Leadership threatens member with court action if he doesn’t sign WHY ARE FBU leaders trying to prevent members from exercising their legal right to inspect the accounts of… Continue reading FBU leadership pulls plug on inspection of accounts after member refuses to sign secrecy agreement

WE HAVE previously reported on how the FBU leadership had gone to extraordinary lengths to prevent us from exercising our legal rights as members to inspect the accounts of the union. We submitted a request to inspect the accounts back in April. The law requires a trade union to grant access to the accounts within… Continue reading Inspection of FBU accounts: the leadership finally relents

FBU general secretary ordered purchase of exercise bike costing over £2,000 from union funds Bike bought solely for personal benefit of senior colleague Was investigation into complaint compromised by interference from assistant general secretary? WHEN IT COMES to internal finances, a good rule of thumb for trade union officials is that they should treat members’… Continue reading Why were FBU members charged the cost of deluxe fitness equipment purchased for the personal use of a senior official?

IN JUNE, WE published a blog which contained whistleblower testimony revealing how a ‘toxic’ working environment had taken hold at the head office of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and how, over many years, several of the union’s employees had received secret pay-offs in return for signing non-disclosure agreements (also known as ‘gagging clauses’). Some… Continue reading Second whistleblower comes forward over ‘hush money’ payments at FBU head office

[We stress from the outset that we level no accusation of wrongdoing against FBU employee Craig Lloyd, who is the focus of this blog.] Momentum is a political pressure group that sits on the far-Left of the spectrum. It is not affiliated to the Labour party, but tries to wield influence inside it. The organisation… Continue reading Are FBU members footing the bill for a key employee to work for a fringe political organisation which counts the general secretary as a member of its governing body?