Anyone have the low down on "Labour staff GMB branch"? How many members does it have? What is this in terms of density? Who are the branch's Secretary and Chair?
As noted elsewhere, the branch seems to be misunderstanding what whistlwblowing actually is. Whistlwblowing (generally) involves invoking an internal procedure and happens *before* signing a settlement agreement or NDA...
Once you sign that NDA (which, to note, would likely have been checked by union solicitors), you essentially forego the right to rip into your employer. That's the nature of the agreement. Employee gets their money, employee gets assurance of no legal claim/public criticism.
I absolutely get the criticism of NDAs, but they *are* common, and they do sometimes provide for terms that compete favourably with taking an employer to tribunal (especially when you factor in the hassle/stress).
In my experience, in practice, NDAs are most often used, with the consent of relevant unions, when the situation either isn't clear-cut or where the employee is, frankly, ripping the piss.
Your genuine, substantive issues - those are the ones where either the whistle is blown or the employer is ultimately taken to tribunal. Does this appear to be one of those situations? No, this appears to be exactly as described by the party...
As in, disgruntled staff who want to have their cake (= financial aspects of NDA) and eat it (= rip into their employer, in violation of the NDA).
