Parliament and Equal Pay

I said the other day that I would draft a petition to the Scottish Parliament highlighting the case for more independent scrutiny and the effective regulation of trade unions in Scotland. 

So here's what I've come up with so far although I'd welcome readers views and comments before taking things any further.

As regular readers will quickly realise, I've broadened things out a little to take account of the situation in South Lanarkshire as well. 

Petition to the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliament calls on the Scottish Government to initiate a public and policy debate on the need for independent regulation of trade unions in Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament notes the long-running battle over equal pay in Scotland’s local councils which has resulted in thousands of Employment Tribunal claims after the failure of the 32 Scottish councils employers, CoSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and the trade unions (GMB, Unison and Unite) to implement the 1999 Single Status (Equal Pay) Agreement.

The Scottish Parliament also notes the position in North Lanarkshire Council where the GMB union has mishandled up to 500 equal pay claims by restricting their members claims to only three years, leaving these members with no access to an independent ‘referee’ capable of adjudicating on their complaints against the GMB. 

The Scottish Parliament further notes that a similar situation exists in South Lanarkshire Council where around 1500 Unison members have lost out significantly because of their union’s poor advice in relation to equal pay.   

The Scottish Parliament calls upon the Scottish Government to consider how to level this uneven playing field by bringing Scotland’s trade unions within a scheme of independent regulation which is in line with other professions and areas of Scotland’s public life.