MPs' staff 'should have discount card'
By Tony Grew - 1st June 2011
It is an idea that is likely to win support across parliament - a loyalty card for MPs' staff.
The Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch has advocated just such a scheme for some time, and their call has now been backed by the Commons admin committee, who recently recommended "a staff loyalty or discount scheme to benefit the lower paid staff of Members and the House".
The union argued that MPs' staff had been "disproportionately affected by the recent catering price increases, as average salaries are low and have been depressed further by IPSA's cuts to staffing budgets".
We reported on the excellent oral evidence the three representatives of Unite gave to the committee's inquiry into catering.
Today branch secretary Louise Haigh, one of that trio, said she is very pleased that the admin committee has backed the plan.
"These schemes work well in the private sector and there is no reason MPs' staff should not also have access to a loyalty scheme," she said.
"We will be writing to both the administration committee and catering and retail services to make sure MPs' staff have a strong voice in the development of the scheme and our members are kept up to date on its progress."
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