4th August 2008, 01:59 PM
You seem to be in a catch 22 situation. All the other contractors must have been approved before they brought this rule in. There might be a more diplomatic way of resloving this, but you might consider writing to the Chief Executive of the council and suggest that running a closed shop is illegal, and that the Office of Fair Trading might be interested. Or you could try having your union's legal advisor draft you such a letter.