Inverclyde Council
Inverclyde Council is pressing ahead with a new pay and grading structure - despite fierce opposition from much of the workforce.
Unison members voted to accept the new arrangements - but the GMB and Unite (formerly TGWU) unions voted to reject - so the usual dog's dinner has emerged - with those advising grassroots union members disagreeing and falling out with each other in public.
Little wonder that so many ordinary union members are confused!
Inverclyde is behaving in exactly the same way as other councils in the west of Scotland - it's trying to implement Single Status on the cheap - and it's not delivering equal pay.
Manual workers being made one-off 'buy out' payments are being sold out - because their claims for equal pay are likely to be worth a great deal more than the council is offering.
As usual the council won't explain how these offers are calculated - because that would let the cat out of the bag - and allow people to see the true value of their claims.
So, our advice is to workers in Inverclyde is to hold out for what you're really worth - by pursuing an equal pay claim.
If you've already accepted an offer from the council - you will still have a claim - because the council is protecting the higher pay of the traditional (bonus earning) male jobs for years into the future.
If you have not been made an offer by the council - chances are that you have a claim as well - based on the outcome of the job evaluation (JE) scheme - which continues to undervalue many female dominated jobs - despite all the promises about a fairer deal under Single Status.
Carers, clerical workers and classroom assistants - are all likely to have significant and ongoing equal pay claims in Inverclyde.
If you need advice or more information contact Action 4 Equality on 0845 300 3 800 or drop Mark Irvine an e-mail at: markirvine@compuserve.com
Unison members voted to accept the new arrangements - but the GMB and Unite (formerly TGWU) unions voted to reject - so the usual dog's dinner has emerged - with those advising grassroots union members disagreeing and falling out with each other in public.
Little wonder that so many ordinary union members are confused!
Inverclyde is behaving in exactly the same way as other councils in the west of Scotland - it's trying to implement Single Status on the cheap - and it's not delivering equal pay.
Manual workers being made one-off 'buy out' payments are being sold out - because their claims for equal pay are likely to be worth a great deal more than the council is offering.
As usual the council won't explain how these offers are calculated - because that would let the cat out of the bag - and allow people to see the true value of their claims.
So, our advice is to workers in Inverclyde is to hold out for what you're really worth - by pursuing an equal pay claim.
If you've already accepted an offer from the council - you will still have a claim - because the council is protecting the higher pay of the traditional (bonus earning) male jobs for years into the future.
If you have not been made an offer by the council - chances are that you have a claim as well - based on the outcome of the job evaluation (JE) scheme - which continues to undervalue many female dominated jobs - despite all the promises about a fairer deal under Single Status.
Carers, clerical workers and classroom assistants - are all likely to have significant and ongoing equal pay claims in Inverclyde.
If you need advice or more information contact Action 4 Equality on 0845 300 3 800 or drop Mark Irvine an e-mail at: markirvine@compuserve.com
