Ref: FOI/21015
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST
West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information requested on 22nd January 2021
Please find below a summary of our findings.
Request.
Some employers deduct subscriptions for trade union members directly out of their wages of employees who are trade union members, via the payroll. The employer then gives these payments to the trade union.
Sometimes this arrangement is called the ‘check-off’.
Please advise:
- Do you have this arrangement in place for any of your workforce? If so for which trade unions do you supply this service?
Reply
Yes. Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and Unison
Request.
- What charge (if any) do you make to trade unions for collecting subscriptions on their behalf?
Reply
0.5% of the value of deductions
Request.
- What plans (if any) do you have to review your arrangements for collecting subscriptions? Do any such plans including charging trade unions for this service? Alternatively, do they include ending the arrangement altogether and leaving the trade unions to collect their own subscriptions?
Reply
No plans to change our current policy
If you have any queries about this freedom of information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW
Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.
