Use your vote

I am writing on behalf of the members of the Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists (ATLAS) to support Peter Foster, the president of the Contract Flooring Association (CFSA), and other industry figures for their recent outcrys regarding retentions.

Foster's comments have provoked unprecedented reaction from our members. We are with him all the way.

ATLAS has a small and highly specialist membership, yet many members have to employ full-time staff to chase retentions. This situation is ridiculous, compounded by the fact that these sums are often only £30, and cost more to recover than forget. Undoubtedly this is exactly what many retention abusers are banking on – literally.

We estimate that the majority of our members' retentions take over two years to recover and over 40% are never recovered at all, simply because it is not financially viable to do so.

We have calculated that retentions abuse in our industry alone affects over 250 000 individuals in associated businesses. As Foster reminded us, these are all of voting age. If this is extrapolated to include all trade associations, we believe Foster's estimate of 1·5 million potential voters is very conservative and the figure is in fact nearer 5 million. This is significant voting power.

Foster has hit the nail on the head and captured the imagination of our membership. We welcome this initiative and formally join the CFA and others to make retentions abuse a major political issue for the next election.