Foot Dragging Councils
I've received several enquiries recently about the foot dragging councils - Midlothian, West Lothian, Clackmannanshire and Argyll & Bute - that have still to settle their equal pay claims.
Understandably people get fed up and frustrated by these delaying tactics - but here's what I said the other day in response to a reader's e-mail:
Dear Colleague
Settlement discussions have taken place recently with your council - but these discussions have not reached agreement on an offer that could be recommended to Action 4 Equality Scotland clients.
Because the council is attaching strings to its offer - that really mean you would be giving up your claim on the cheap.
I understand your frustration and that is exactly what the council is playing on - hoping that you will become so frustrated and fed up - that you agree to the council's terms.
Which would, of course, mean you accepting an offer that is worth much less - than the true value of your claim.
At the moment the ball is in the council's court - and if we agreement cannot be reached then these outstanding cases will have to be decided by the employment tribunals.
You could make your views known to your local councillor or MSP as people are doing around the country - as a means of encouraging these 'foot dragging' councils to come to their senses.
If you need any information about lobbying your local councillor or MSP - please let me know.
Kind regards
Mark
Understandably people get fed up and frustrated by these delaying tactics - but here's what I said the other day in response to a reader's e-mail:
Dear Colleague
Settlement discussions have taken place recently with your council - but these discussions have not reached agreement on an offer that could be recommended to Action 4 Equality Scotland clients.
Because the council is attaching strings to its offer - that really mean you would be giving up your claim on the cheap.
I understand your frustration and that is exactly what the council is playing on - hoping that you will become so frustrated and fed up - that you agree to the council's terms.
Which would, of course, mean you accepting an offer that is worth much less - than the true value of your claim.
At the moment the ball is in the council's court - and if we agreement cannot be reached then these outstanding cases will have to be decided by the employment tribunals.
You could make your views known to your local councillor or MSP as people are doing around the country - as a means of encouraging these 'foot dragging' councils to come to their senses.
If you need any information about lobbying your local councillor or MSP - please let me know.
Kind regards
Mark
