Ministers back down on plan to scrap 'check-off' system of paying union dues

The Government announced a pause on the plan

Civil servants on Whitehall will retain check-off for now (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

The Government has backed down over plans to scrap the so-called “check-off” system of paying union dues.

Under “check-off” public sector workers can pay their union subscriptions by having them automatically deducted from their wages.

Ministers had wanted workers to have to arrange payment themselves, but now announced a “pause” in the plan.

Unions said the move would lead to a loss of funds by making it more complicated to subscribe to a trade union.

The Government's assessment of the policy suggested unions would be hit by £11 million in one-off transition costs and that they would have to pay at least £5 million a year in banking fees.

“Arguments have been made with considerable vim and vigour that by ending check-off and moving to direct debit, those on low pay and especially those who have pay day loans might have to cease being trade union members or have to pay extra bank charges,” Cabinet Office minister Lord Bridges of Headley said.

“Again, this is not our intention and never has been.”

The Trades Union Congress welcomed the change but said the remainder of the Government’s Trade Union Bill was also flawed.

“Banning workers from choosing to pay union subs in a convenient way through their payroll would, as many have warned, damaged industrial relations and morale in key services,” said TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady (AFP/Getty)

“While this is an important milestone, the TUC remains opposed to the Trade Union Bill in its entirety and will continue to push for further changes when it is debated again in the House of Commons next week.”

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This is welcome news and shows the pressure we are applying is working, but the trade union bill is rotten to the core and no amount of tinkering by the government can change that.

“The proposals are a vile cocktail of everything that is wrong with the Tories’ approach to working people and our economy, and the bill should be scrapped in its entirety.”

The Conservatives tried to scrap check-off under the Coalition government but were blocked from doing so on a blanket basis by the Liberal Democrats.

Some departments however dropped the system on a unilateral basis.