Union Propaganda - Beware!
If you’re desperate enough to ask Unison for help with an equal pay claim - the union sends out some interesting materials – some are for information, others require action.
Here are a few examples:
OVERSTATED, OVERBLOWN CLAIMS
Our promise is to provide a free equal pay service from day one.....
A grand sounding claim – but the reality is that Day 1 was July 1999 when the original Single Status agreement came into effect in Scotland - a full 10 years ago.
Since that time many thousands of council workers have lost out financially – because the unions failed to take the action needed - to defend their interests over equal pay.
DIY CASE FORMS
Unison Case Form – Remedy sought by member – Please state here what services you would like Unison to provide on your behalf.
The fact that Unison is asking members to come up with their own potential remedies and solutions says it all – surely people are entitled to a better service. It’s a kind of DIY approach to equal pay, which puts the onus on individuals to come up with the answer.
Our advice would be to write: “Get your fingers out – and do what you should have been doing for the past 10 years”.
POLITICAL FUND PAYMENTS
Unison’s Membership Form (for new members states) – Your subscription shown above includes a Political Fund payment - so you do not pay more by being in one of the (Political) funds.
But what this doesn’t explain is that members can actually opt out of the Political Fund and have their ‘political’ contributions refunded – which would reduce a member’s union contributions by over 8% every year.
The application form is misleading and poorly worded – it reads as if the Political Fund and its various activities are free – and not paid for by members’ contributions.
But, of course, that’s the whole idea – because the more people understand about how the Political Fund works, the more likely they are to opt out - and demand their money back.
Action 4 Equality Scotland and Stefan Cross
So, what you see from the unions is not what you get – there’s always some other issue or agenda running and our advice is to take their claims with a huge pinch of salt.
The reality is that the trade unions are not serious about equal pay – they’ve consistently let their members down for the past 10 years – and that’s why they are regarded as a soft touch by the employers.
And that’s why the majority of people are pursuing their equal pay claims with Action 4 Equality Scotland and Stefan Cross.
Here are a few examples:
OVERSTATED, OVERBLOWN CLAIMS
Our promise is to provide a free equal pay service from day one.....
A grand sounding claim – but the reality is that Day 1 was July 1999 when the original Single Status agreement came into effect in Scotland - a full 10 years ago.
Since that time many thousands of council workers have lost out financially – because the unions failed to take the action needed - to defend their interests over equal pay.
DIY CASE FORMS
Unison Case Form – Remedy sought by member – Please state here what services you would like Unison to provide on your behalf.
The fact that Unison is asking members to come up with their own potential remedies and solutions says it all – surely people are entitled to a better service. It’s a kind of DIY approach to equal pay, which puts the onus on individuals to come up with the answer.
Our advice would be to write: “Get your fingers out – and do what you should have been doing for the past 10 years”.
POLITICAL FUND PAYMENTS
Unison’s Membership Form (for new members states) – Your subscription shown above includes a Political Fund payment - so you do not pay more by being in one of the (Political) funds.
But what this doesn’t explain is that members can actually opt out of the Political Fund and have their ‘political’ contributions refunded – which would reduce a member’s union contributions by over 8% every year.
The application form is misleading and poorly worded – it reads as if the Political Fund and its various activities are free – and not paid for by members’ contributions.
But, of course, that’s the whole idea – because the more people understand about how the Political Fund works, the more likely they are to opt out - and demand their money back.
Action 4 Equality Scotland and Stefan Cross
So, what you see from the unions is not what you get – there’s always some other issue or agenda running and our advice is to take their claims with a huge pinch of salt.
The reality is that the trade unions are not serious about equal pay – they’ve consistently let their members down for the past 10 years – and that’s why they are regarded as a soft touch by the employers.
And that’s why the majority of people are pursuing their equal pay claims with Action 4 Equality Scotland and Stefan Cross.
