COUNCIL and NHS leaders have defended allowing their buildings to be used by unions after concerns that this goes against official guidance.

Campaign group the TaxPayers Alliance spoke out over 2,039sq ft of space used by unions in Oxfordshire.

It published figures and said Government guidance stated “restrictions should be placed on the use of office facilities for trade union representatives”.

Spokesman Jonathan Isaby said: “It’s completely inappropriate for public sector bodies to be subsidising the work of trade unions which take great pride in disrupting essential services, especially after Govern-ment guidance has told them not to.”

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Oxfordshire County Council provides 592sq ft for Unison at County Hall, Oxford.

Spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “This represents a minuscule portion of the office space used by the county council.”

It helps fulfil its legal obligations to consult unions and resolve issues, he said.

Oxford City Council, which gave over 1,290sqft, had yet to comment.

Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils’ union representatives share 123sq ft, a spokesman said.

They said dispute resolution service ACAS recommends unions have “facilities necessary for them to perform their duties” at work. They said the space is “reasonable, proportionate and in line with the recommended code of practice”.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman Stephanie Clark said 34sq ft at the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals was used by seven unions.

She said: “The trust values engagement with its employees.”

Among other district councils, the survey said Cherwell gave no space and West Oxfordshire did not respond.


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