UK spies come in from the cold

Spies are to be offered union membership in a revolutionary move by the Secret Intelligence Service - MI6.

The department has affiliated to the First Division Association (FDA), which represents 11,000 senior civil servants in a move expressly approved by the Government, which has had to contend with a number of high-profile cases of disgruntled spies.

The FDA will help the 2,000-plus members of Her Majesty's Secret Service to negotiate better pay and working conditions and provide legal advice. Dealings with the FDA will be through the staff association and members will have to maintain their contractual obligation not to strike.

Union membership will not compromise the anonymity of spies. Any cards issued will bear neither a photograph nor personal details. If MI6 employees had become full union members the FDA would have been legally obliged to have a register of names and addresses.