Jane Pilgrim

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Jane Pilgrim is an English full-time trade union organiser working in the National Health Service for UNISON.^{[citation needed]} She came to public attention in 2011 after criticising the government's health policies.^[1]

Full-time taxpayer-funded trade union officials have become known as "Pilgrims",^[2] with an Early Day Motion being introduced to the House of Commons condemning such practices.^[3] David Morris MP has raised the issue with the Health Secretary, while Alok Sharma MP asked a question of the Prime Minister. David Cameron responded that "It's nice work if you can get it!"^[4] Sharma has also sent Freedom of Information requests to all local councils to uncover how many "Pilgrims" are employed in local government, with the replies indicating at least £35m a year being spent,^[5]

Footnotes

^ Randhawa, Kiran (11 April 2011). "Nurse who called Health Minister Andrew Lansley a liar is £40,000-a-year full-time union official". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
^ "Unions must fund their own staff". The Sunday Telegraph. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
^ "Early day motion 1799 - Trade union officials paid for from the public purse". Hansard. Parliament. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
^ Sharma, Alok (26 January 2011). "Sharma highlights local use of taxpayers' money to fund full-time union posts". Sharma, Alok. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
^ Sharma, Alok (28 April 2011). "Alok Sharma MP: How Council Tax payers have funded £35 million of Trade Union salaries over the past three years". ConservativeHome. Retrieved 15 May 2011.