in a recent letter to this site J would like to see the gen secs salary being published and I agree with him. The General Secretary of the CWU is not doing the union any favours by failing to disclose his salary. This projects the image of the union as being secretive. Surely when the unions must often be in a situation where they are calling for transparency from employers and politicians etc this non disclosure weakens the CWU position.
It is particularly dissapointing that the Gen Sec Steve Fitzpatrick was so full of enthususiasm and promises of transparency in his first address to members through his very first editorial in connect magazine when he was newly elected Gen Secretary.
The NEC should instruct him to disclose his salary immediately, at the very least the people who pay it, the union members, should know what he is being paid.
I have heard rumours that he is the highest paid trade union official in Ireland , personally i don't believe this but unfortunately when information is not out it the open speculation takes over.
Pat