The Truth Will Out
A number of readers from South Lanarkshire have been in touch to say that they've got in touch with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) - here's a previous post from 23 April 2010 explaining the background.
Good for them - people are perfectly entitled to challenge South Lanarkshire's secretive ways over basic pay information - more power to their elbow - this may be a long hard fight, but sooner or later the truth will out.
Friday, 23 April 2010
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
Lots of readers from South Lanarkshire feel frustrated at the council's delaying tactics over equal pay - so they've been asking what they can to to support their claims.
Well one thing people could do is to complain about the lack of transparency on pay information - and the body to complain to is the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland (EHRC).
The EHRC is responsible for overseeing the legislative framework on all equalities issues - and regularly issues good practice guidance to employers - large and small.
Much of this appears to have passed South Lanarkshire Council by - but the EHRC is conducting a formal investigation into Glasgow's pay and grading structures - following complaints by individual employees.
So, a similar approach in South Lanarkshire - can only help in the ongoing fight for equal pay - here's a draft letter that readers might wish to use in raising the issue with EHRC Scotland.
Dear EHRC
South Lanarkshire Council and Equal Pay
I would like to complain to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about the lack of transparency in the pay arrangements operated by my employer, South Lanarkshire Council.
I have been pursuing an equal pay claim against my employer for a number of years, but the council refuses to explain clearly and fully the basis of its pay arrangements for different groups of male and female employees.
Specifically, I am complaining about the inability of groups of predominantly female employees to understand the basis on which their jobs have been graded and paid - compared to their male counterparts.
My complaint should be viewed in the context of the 1999 Single Status (Equal Pay) Agreement which applied to all 32 Scottish councils and over 250,000 local government workers.
South Lanarkshire Council claims to have implemented this agreement in April 2004, but the council did so in a way that is completely different from every other council in Scotland, for example by opting out of the national Job Evaluation (JE) scheme recommended for use by COSLA and the trade unions.
South Lanarkshire Council refuses to provide basic pay information which is freely available in just about every other council in Scotland.
Based on my own local knowledge, the historical pay differences between traditional male and female jobs in South Lanarkshire Council has been reinforced by the council's 2004 grading and pay structures.
Basic safeguards such as comparing the 'rank order' of jobs before and after the grading exercise have not been carried out - resulting in women's jobs being concentrated at the bottom of the pay ladder.
Again based on local knowledge, there has been widespread pay preservation amongst the traditional male jobs which is not only discriminatory but also contravenes the letter and spirit of the 1999 Single Status Agreement.
I believe that South Lanarkshire Council has failed to uphold its responsibilities in respect of gender equality and I would like EHRC to investigate my complaint
I look forward to hearing from you
Kind regards
Signed
South Lanarkshire Council Employee
Contact details for EHRC Scotland will follow - in a separate post - remember to date and sign any letter you send off - and to include a contact address and/or phone number.
Good for them - people are perfectly entitled to challenge South Lanarkshire's secretive ways over basic pay information - more power to their elbow - this may be a long hard fight, but sooner or later the truth will out.
Friday, 23 April 2010
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
Lots of readers from South Lanarkshire feel frustrated at the council's delaying tactics over equal pay - so they've been asking what they can to to support their claims.
Well one thing people could do is to complain about the lack of transparency on pay information - and the body to complain to is the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland (EHRC).
The EHRC is responsible for overseeing the legislative framework on all equalities issues - and regularly issues good practice guidance to employers - large and small.
Much of this appears to have passed South Lanarkshire Council by - but the EHRC is conducting a formal investigation into Glasgow's pay and grading structures - following complaints by individual employees.
So, a similar approach in South Lanarkshire - can only help in the ongoing fight for equal pay - here's a draft letter that readers might wish to use in raising the issue with EHRC Scotland.
Dear EHRC
South Lanarkshire Council and Equal Pay
I would like to complain to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about the lack of transparency in the pay arrangements operated by my employer, South Lanarkshire Council.
I have been pursuing an equal pay claim against my employer for a number of years, but the council refuses to explain clearly and fully the basis of its pay arrangements for different groups of male and female employees.
Specifically, I am complaining about the inability of groups of predominantly female employees to understand the basis on which their jobs have been graded and paid - compared to their male counterparts.
My complaint should be viewed in the context of the 1999 Single Status (Equal Pay) Agreement which applied to all 32 Scottish councils and over 250,000 local government workers.
South Lanarkshire Council claims to have implemented this agreement in April 2004, but the council did so in a way that is completely different from every other council in Scotland, for example by opting out of the national Job Evaluation (JE) scheme recommended for use by COSLA and the trade unions.
South Lanarkshire Council refuses to provide basic pay information which is freely available in just about every other council in Scotland.
Based on my own local knowledge, the historical pay differences between traditional male and female jobs in South Lanarkshire Council has been reinforced by the council's 2004 grading and pay structures.
Basic safeguards such as comparing the 'rank order' of jobs before and after the grading exercise have not been carried out - resulting in women's jobs being concentrated at the bottom of the pay ladder.
Again based on local knowledge, there has been widespread pay preservation amongst the traditional male jobs which is not only discriminatory but also contravenes the letter and spirit of the 1999 Single Status Agreement.
I believe that South Lanarkshire Council has failed to uphold its responsibilities in respect of gender equality and I would like EHRC to investigate my complaint
I look forward to hearing from you
Kind regards
Signed
South Lanarkshire Council Employee
Contact details for EHRC Scotland will follow - in a separate post - remember to date and sign any letter you send off - and to include a contact address and/or phone number.
