Here to Stay
A regular reader has been in touch to ask - why councils in Scotland have been trying to drag this equal pay business out for so long.
Why didn't councils just put their hands up - admit they'd made a complete horse's ass of things - and settle people's claims on a fair basis?
Well to get the definitive answer to that question - you would need to ask all of the councils involved.
But my view is that they were cynically trying to starve people out - slowing the process down at every possible turn - using bogus arguments that were eventually overturned, but had the effect of sapping people's morale.
Also the employers knew fine well that Action 4 Equality Scotland was having to support all the activity that was taking place - without any reward until cases were successfully resolved.
So, the employers were hoping that Action 4 Equality Scotland would run out of the funds and determination needed - to see the fight for equal pay through to a successful conclusion.
By dragging things out for ever and a day the employers presumably hoped to force Action 4 Equality Scotland off the field of play - in which case it would have been back to business as normal with the in the trade unions.
And as everyone knows - the unions did virtually nothing about equal pay for years - so the status quo would have suited the employers just fine.
As it turns out Action 4 Equality Scotland has gone from strength to strength - has forged a new partnership with Fox Cross Solicitors - and is definitely here to stay.
Why didn't councils just put their hands up - admit they'd made a complete horse's ass of things - and settle people's claims on a fair basis?
Well to get the definitive answer to that question - you would need to ask all of the councils involved.
But my view is that they were cynically trying to starve people out - slowing the process down at every possible turn - using bogus arguments that were eventually overturned, but had the effect of sapping people's morale.
Also the employers knew fine well that Action 4 Equality Scotland was having to support all the activity that was taking place - without any reward until cases were successfully resolved.
So, the employers were hoping that Action 4 Equality Scotland would run out of the funds and determination needed - to see the fight for equal pay through to a successful conclusion.
By dragging things out for ever and a day the employers presumably hoped to force Action 4 Equality Scotland off the field of play - in which case it would have been back to business as normal with the in the trade unions.
And as everyone knows - the unions did virtually nothing about equal pay for years - so the status quo would have suited the employers just fine.
As it turns out Action 4 Equality Scotland has gone from strength to strength - has forged a new partnership with Fox Cross Solicitors - and is definitely here to stay.
