More Equal Than Others
Edinburgh City Council has issued an briefing document to a bemused public - in an effort to explain the background to its long-running refuse collection dispute.
The council helpfully explains that a basic refuse collector currently earns a basic salary of around £12,000 with an attendance 'bonus' of nearly £7,000. A refuse driver earns even more.
The key word in that sentence is 'attendance' - because the extra £7,000 is what these traditional male jobs were paid - simply for turning up for work.
The extra money had nothing to do with productivity or performance - as the employers used to argue.
And, of course, all of the female dominated jobs (and some men) - were excluded from bonus payments altogether.
But at least we should be grateful for small mercies.
At least Edinburgh is no longer trying to maintain the fiction that its bonuses were justified - that the men earning bonuses were somehow working harder or more productively than women.
As we all know that is baloney - from start to finish - even if some Scottish councils are still trying to defend the indefensible.
Meanwhile the unions have some explaining to do to their women members - how come some council workers were deemed eligible for extra payments of £7,000 a year - but not others?
How come - when it comes to equal pay - some workers are more equal than others?
The council helpfully explains that a basic refuse collector currently earns a basic salary of around £12,000 with an attendance 'bonus' of nearly £7,000. A refuse driver earns even more.
The key word in that sentence is 'attendance' - because the extra £7,000 is what these traditional male jobs were paid - simply for turning up for work.
The extra money had nothing to do with productivity or performance - as the employers used to argue.
And, of course, all of the female dominated jobs (and some men) - were excluded from bonus payments altogether.
But at least we should be grateful for small mercies.
At least Edinburgh is no longer trying to maintain the fiction that its bonuses were justified - that the men earning bonuses were somehow working harder or more productively than women.
As we all know that is baloney - from start to finish - even if some Scottish councils are still trying to defend the indefensible.
Meanwhile the unions have some explaining to do to their women members - how come some council workers were deemed eligible for extra payments of £7,000 a year - but not others?
How come - when it comes to equal pay - some workers are more equal than others?
