Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to our clients in Scotland - and all the very best for 2008!
Action 4 Equality and Stefan Cross have now reached settlements with the following four Scottish councils: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Renfrewshire - although our clients in these areas also have ongoing claims - because the employers continue to protect the higher pay of traditional male jobs.
And while the pay gap remains our clients have a future (as well as a past) claim - so spread the word and let others know they still have a claim - even if they've settled with their council before!
Preliminary discussions are also underway with several other councils - and more are likely to follow as Employment Tribunals begin to set dates for cases to be adjudicated finally. So, we expect the pace of settlements in Scotland to pick up in the weeks and months ahead - and not before time too!
Clients call us all the time asking for an update - so here is some general advice as 2008 gets underway.
1 If we have news to report it will be posted on the web site at: www.action4equalityscotland.blogspot.com
2 All claims are currently working their way through the Employment Tribunal process
3 This involves a series of procedural CMD hearings (Case Management Discussions) before the employers have to present their defence - at what is know as a GMF (Genuine Material Factor) hearing
4 We cannot say precisely how long this will take - though it is taking longer than expected because many of the employers have been deliberately stubborn and unreasonable
5 But we are making progress - the two largest councils in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) have already settled many of their claims (as have Stirling and Renfrewshire) - and several others are talking to us as well
6 Edinburgh Council, for example, has settled claims up to 1 April 2008 - so while the delay has been frustrating cases first registered in October 2005 have added another 2.5 years onto their claims for back pay
7 As soon as there is any news about a particular council we will be in touch with those clients directly affected - as well as reporting developments via the web site
8 Clients are always welcome to call us - but often we can't tell you any more than is reported on the web site
9 We are working as hard as we can to bring all of the outstanding cases to a satisfactory conclusion - as soon as we possibly can
10 Clients can help by putting their case to local councillors, MPs and MSPs and - wherever possible - by making a noise in the local press
Action 4 Equality and Stefan Cross have now reached settlements with the following four Scottish councils: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Renfrewshire - although our clients in these areas also have ongoing claims - because the employers continue to protect the higher pay of traditional male jobs.
And while the pay gap remains our clients have a future (as well as a past) claim - so spread the word and let others know they still have a claim - even if they've settled with their council before!
Preliminary discussions are also underway with several other councils - and more are likely to follow as Employment Tribunals begin to set dates for cases to be adjudicated finally. So, we expect the pace of settlements in Scotland to pick up in the weeks and months ahead - and not before time too!
Clients call us all the time asking for an update - so here is some general advice as 2008 gets underway.
1 If we have news to report it will be posted on the web site at: www.action4equalityscotland.blogspot.com
2 All claims are currently working their way through the Employment Tribunal process
3 This involves a series of procedural CMD hearings (Case Management Discussions) before the employers have to present their defence - at what is know as a GMF (Genuine Material Factor) hearing
4 We cannot say precisely how long this will take - though it is taking longer than expected because many of the employers have been deliberately stubborn and unreasonable
5 But we are making progress - the two largest councils in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) have already settled many of their claims (as have Stirling and Renfrewshire) - and several others are talking to us as well
6 Edinburgh Council, for example, has settled claims up to 1 April 2008 - so while the delay has been frustrating cases first registered in October 2005 have added another 2.5 years onto their claims for back pay
7 As soon as there is any news about a particular council we will be in touch with those clients directly affected - as well as reporting developments via the web site
8 Clients are always welcome to call us - but often we can't tell you any more than is reported on the web site
9 We are working as hard as we can to bring all of the outstanding cases to a satisfactory conclusion - as soon as we possibly can
10 Clients can help by putting their case to local councillors, MPs and MSPs and - wherever possible - by making a noise in the local press
