Chocolate Teapots and Equal Pay
Long before the days of modern 'photo-shopping' the old Soviet Union mastered the art of 'airbrushing' people out of history.
Over the years official pictures of Joseph Stalin used to be doctored ensure that the former friends and colleagues of the Soviet leader quietly vanished from the scene.
According to Stefan Cross, Glasgow City Council may be trying to do the same thing over a new Job Evaluation Scheme which is pretty crazy if you ask me, especially as A4ES represents a big majority of Glasgow's equal pay claimants.
Here's the latest communication from Annemarie O'Donnell, Glasgow City Council's chief executive, who fought tooth and nail to defend the 'unfit for purpose' WPBR for years - and who is still refusing to explain how senior council officials acted in 'good faith' when this cockamamy pay scheme was introduced back in 2007.
I think you can tell this whole business of 'coming clean' about the WPBR is beginning to get under Annemarie's skin because her latest missive to the workforce tries to airbrush Action 4 Equality Scotland right out of the picture, as if we don't exist, even though A4ES represents the largest number of equal pay claimants in Glasgow.
Yours sincerely
Now I don't have anything against Unite, but it does have to be said that Unite has been about as much good as a chocolate teapot as far as the fight for equal pay in Glasgow is concerned.
So in the nicest possible way, I would tell them to 'bog off'.
AIRBRUSHING OUT A4ES
As Mark Irvine’s latest blogpost makes clear there seems to be an attempt by GCC and at least one union, UNITE, to not only airbrush out A4ES from history but actively stop us representing you in the JES and terms and conditions sub group.
As Mark Irvine’s latest blogpost makes clear there seems to be an attempt by GCC and at least one union, UNITE, to not only airbrush out A4ES from history but actively stop us representing you in the JES and terms and conditions sub group.
They even want us to pretend we don’t represent the majority of claimants, suggesting we only represent a third of claimants when it’s nearly 70%.
Not only do they want to deny our involvement in the negotiations theyactively want to kick us off the subgroup or, at best, agree to leave soon before we even know what is being proposed by GCC or the unions.
Not only do they want to deny our involvement in the negotiations theyactively want to kick us off the subgroup or, at best, agree to leave soon before we even know what is being proposed by GCC or the unions.
It seems some people want to go back to secret deals behind closed doors, which will then be presented to you as a take it or leave it option.
GCC is trying to pressure UNISON and GMB to back UNITE. We hope our union colleagues will continue to stand with us, and accept our proper involvement in the negotiations including the sub groups.
Stefan
GCC is trying to pressure UNISON and GMB to back UNITE. We hope our union colleagues will continue to stand with us, and accept our proper involvement in the negotiations including the sub groups.
Stefan
Glasgow's Bold New Equal Pay Initiative - 'Ask Annemarie'
Here's the latest communication from Annemarie O'Donnell, Glasgow City Council's chief executive, who fought tooth and nail to defend the 'unfit for purpose' WPBR for years - and who is still refusing to explain how senior council officials acted in 'good faith' when this cockamamy pay scheme was introduced back in 2007.
I think you can tell this whole business of 'coming clean' about the WPBR is beginning to get under Annemarie's skin because her latest missive to the workforce tries to airbrush Action 4 Equality Scotland right out of the picture, as if we don't exist, even though A4ES represents the largest number of equal pay claimants in Glasgow.
Now there will be more to follow about Annemarie soon, as I recently registered a formal complaint with the CEO over what I regard as the Council's unprofessional behaviour in relation to freedom of information (FOI).
Sooner or later the penny must drop that the discredited senior council officials responsible for introducing and defending the WPBR and Glasgow's ALEOs - are part of the problem when it comes to equal pay not part of the solution!
So maybe readers would like to drop a note to Annemarie along the following lines to her new 'Ask Annmarie' equal pay hotline - AnneMarie@glasgow.gov.uk
Dear Annemarie
Can you explain how senior council officials who defended the WPBR for so many years can now be trusted to oversee the introduction of new, open and transparent pay arrangements which command the support of the Council's largely female workforce?
Yours sincerely
A Second Class Member of the Glasgow 'Council Family'
I wish you well although in my experience the problem lies not in asking Annemarie topical questions - but in getting straight answers out of the council's CEO.
If any readers have a 'Question for Annemarie', send me your suggestions and I'll share the details on the blog site - in confidence of course.
Subject: Equal pay claims and pay and grading review - message from Annemarie O'Donnell
I want to give you an update about the council’s commitment to resolving equal pay claims and making sure that we have a fair pay and grading system for everyone who works for the council in the future. I’m committed to keeping you informed about anything that could affect you in the future, even before we know the exact details about what this will mean to you.
As part of the ongoing equal pay claim negotiations, we have now agreed with our trade unions that we need to replace our current workforce pay and grading system and conduct a review to consider the alternatives open to the council to make sure that everyone is paid equally for equal work in the future.
A paper is being prepared, in consultation with the trade unions, to ask the City Administration Committee for a decision to carry out the review and that is likely to be before summer recess. We anticipate that it will take several months to complete the review and depending on the outcome, fully implementing the changes could take a number of years.
Although everyone who works in a non-teaching job in the council could be affected by this review, it won’t necessarily mean that everyone will experience a change to their pay and benefits.
Once the report for the City Administration Committee is available I will be in touch to tell you about the content and then again once the decision has been made about implementing the review.
As always, I am grateful for the work that you all do for Glasgow and its citizens. Although this will feel like an uncertain time, what won’t change is the type and quality of work that you all do to make this city better every day.
If you have any questions you can email me at Ask Annemarie
Regards
Annemarie O’Donnell
Chief Executive
If any readers have a 'Question for Annemarie', send me your suggestions and I'll share the details on the blog site - in confidence of course.
Subject: Equal pay claims and pay and grading review - message from Annemarie O'Donnell
I want to give you an update about the council’s commitment to resolving equal pay claims and making sure that we have a fair pay and grading system for everyone who works for the council in the future. I’m committed to keeping you informed about anything that could affect you in the future, even before we know the exact details about what this will mean to you.
As part of the ongoing equal pay claim negotiations, we have now agreed with our trade unions that we need to replace our current workforce pay and grading system and conduct a review to consider the alternatives open to the council to make sure that everyone is paid equally for equal work in the future.
A paper is being prepared, in consultation with the trade unions, to ask the City Administration Committee for a decision to carry out the review and that is likely to be before summer recess. We anticipate that it will take several months to complete the review and depending on the outcome, fully implementing the changes could take a number of years.
Although everyone who works in a non-teaching job in the council could be affected by this review, it won’t necessarily mean that everyone will experience a change to their pay and benefits.
Once the report for the City Administration Committee is available I will be in touch to tell you about the content and then again once the decision has been made about implementing the review.
As always, I am grateful for the work that you all do for Glasgow and its citizens. Although this will feel like an uncertain time, what won’t change is the type and quality of work that you all do to make this city better every day.
If you have any questions you can email me at Ask Annemarie
Regards
Annemarie O’Donnell
Chief Executive
