Parliamentary Flack
Parliament may be full of flummery and ritual, but a less archaic Parliamentary institution that deserves more acknowledgement is the Unite (formerly TGWU) branch, which for many years has tried – and even often succeeded – to make Parliament a better place for those who work there. So credit to the PLP chair Tony Lloyd for his Early Day Motion thanking Kevin Flack, the secretary of the Parliamentary Unite branch, for ten years carrying out that role.
His EDM says: “this House recognises Kevin Flack’s commitment over 10 years as the Secretary of the UNITE T&G Parliamentary Staff trade union branch; appreciates that over the past decade he has worked tirelessly in representing staff of hon. Members and MEPs’ staff both in individual matters and in seeking to improve their collective conditions; acknowledges and thanks him for his good humour and dedication; and wishes him the best of luck in all his future activities.”
As another graduate of the Sports and Social Club put it today, Kevin’s finally got his own EDM.
Well done Kevin – and thanks to all the union’s officers over the years who have made its work possible.
Overdue public recognition of the role that the Unite/T&G Parliamentary Branch has played in the many improvements to MPs’ staff pay and conditions over the last ten years. Dealing with over 500 individual employers means that consistency in working conditions is a difficult thing to achieve. The union has helped MPs to travel a long way as employers, so thanks to Kevin and all his colleagues.