Catch 22
Here’s an exchange of emails with Michael McMahon, MSP for Hamilton North and Bellshill.
Some say that Labour MSPs are unlikely to ask tough questions of their colleagues in a Labour-run Council - and the same may be true of politicians from other parties as well.
In the present climate – when the reputation of politics is a rock bottom – you would expect MSPs, MPs and local councillors, from all parties, to be standing up for their local constituents – asking sensible questions of senior officials and demanding straight answers.
If any readers want to contact Michael McMahon, his e-mail address is: Michael.McMahon.msp@scottish.parliament.co.uk
If you wish to make your voice heard with other regional list MSPs, their names and contact details are in the previous post dated 1 May 2009.
Mark
Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to comment.
It shames everyone in politics that there remains today any hard working and dedicated public sector employee who does not, through their earnings, receive the equal recognition with their colleagues that they deserve. I fully support the collective desire that the workforce in South Lanarkshire Council affected by this disgraceful situation has to finally end the discrimination which their local authority employers have allowed to exist for far too long.
For as long as they continue to work together with their trade union representatives to achieve this outcome, rather than money grabbing lawyers who seek to exploit this situation for their own financial gain at the expense of other public sector workers jobs, they will continue to have my full backing.
Regards
Michael
Dear Michael
I think you are trying to have you cake and eat it - by qualifying your 'support' for equal pay on the basis that it should only be achieved by collective (i.e. trade union) action. In my view, your attitude is hypocritical because this is a practical impossibility - a modern day Catch 22! No doubt council employees would have welcomed union support when it was required – several years ago.
The point is that the unions are part of the problem - they kept their members in the dark about equal pay for years - they are not fighting a single equal pay case in South Lanarkshire - and the council itself says the unions endorsed their new pay and grading structures - which favour traditional male jobs, especially those in post pre-April 2004.
So, I fail to see how your approach can be of any practical help to your constituents because it ducks the central issue of effective representation We provide a service to our clients and charge a reasonable fee - to call this money-grabbing is plainly ridiculous. The unions, on the other hand take money from their members money every week – but what do they have to show for when it comes to equal pay?
On a positive note, I do admire your willingness to debate the issue and I will ensure that you are invited to any future Action 4 Equality Scotland meetings in the Hamilton area.
Kind regards
Mark
PS As indicated previously I will publish you comments on the blog site - along with a copy of my response
Some say that Labour MSPs are unlikely to ask tough questions of their colleagues in a Labour-run Council - and the same may be true of politicians from other parties as well.
In the present climate – when the reputation of politics is a rock bottom – you would expect MSPs, MPs and local councillors, from all parties, to be standing up for their local constituents – asking sensible questions of senior officials and demanding straight answers.
If any readers want to contact Michael McMahon, his e-mail address is: Michael.McMahon.msp@scottish.parliament.co.uk
If you wish to make your voice heard with other regional list MSPs, their names and contact details are in the previous post dated 1 May 2009.
Mark
Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to comment.
It shames everyone in politics that there remains today any hard working and dedicated public sector employee who does not, through their earnings, receive the equal recognition with their colleagues that they deserve. I fully support the collective desire that the workforce in South Lanarkshire Council affected by this disgraceful situation has to finally end the discrimination which their local authority employers have allowed to exist for far too long.
For as long as they continue to work together with their trade union representatives to achieve this outcome, rather than money grabbing lawyers who seek to exploit this situation for their own financial gain at the expense of other public sector workers jobs, they will continue to have my full backing.
Regards
Michael
Dear Michael
I think you are trying to have you cake and eat it - by qualifying your 'support' for equal pay on the basis that it should only be achieved by collective (i.e. trade union) action. In my view, your attitude is hypocritical because this is a practical impossibility - a modern day Catch 22! No doubt council employees would have welcomed union support when it was required – several years ago.
The point is that the unions are part of the problem - they kept their members in the dark about equal pay for years - they are not fighting a single equal pay case in South Lanarkshire - and the council itself says the unions endorsed their new pay and grading structures - which favour traditional male jobs, especially those in post pre-April 2004.
So, I fail to see how your approach can be of any practical help to your constituents because it ducks the central issue of effective representation We provide a service to our clients and charge a reasonable fee - to call this money-grabbing is plainly ridiculous. The unions, on the other hand take money from their members money every week – but what do they have to show for when it comes to equal pay?
On a positive note, I do admire your willingness to debate the issue and I will ensure that you are invited to any future Action 4 Equality Scotland meetings in the Hamilton area.
Kind regards
Mark
PS As indicated previously I will publish you comments on the blog site - along with a copy of my response
