Nalgo jamboree criticised

THE biggest white-collar union has come under fire from members for spending pounds 250,000 to celebrate its merger with two other unions, writes Barrie Clement. Critical motions have been tabled at the annual conference of the National and Local Government Officers' Association in Brighton on Friday.

The money will be spent ahead of the creation on 1 July of 'Unison' with the National Union of Public Employees and Cohse, the health union. Nalgo plans a party for its 1,000 staff in London and functions throughout its 12 regions.

One motion denounces the spending as a 'gross waste of money provided by members' subscriptions and constitutes an insult to Nalgo members, particularly low-paid ones'.

Alan Jinkinson, general secretary of the union, said the money was being used to celebrate the union's last 88 years.