Blood From A Stone
A number of readers have been in touch - regular visitors to the blog site - who for one reason or another have taken an equal pay claim up with their trade union.
Trouble is they can't get any information out of their union when they ring up or send an e-mail - they say 'it's like getting blood from a stone'.
Now it has to be perfectly reasonable for a union member to ask their trade union - from time to time - for a proper progress report on their case.
To be fair, the union can't be expected to drop everything - and respond immediately to every minor point.
But they should be willing to provide proper feedback on what's happening - and to treat members with courtesy and respect.
If a member's case is being handled by a union lawyer - then the lawyer is also obliged to provide regular updates to clients - under rules laid down by the Law Society of Scotland.
So either way the point is if you have a sensible question - don't allow yourself to fobbed off - insist on getting a proper answer.
Trouble is they can't get any information out of their union when they ring up or send an e-mail - they say 'it's like getting blood from a stone'.
Now it has to be perfectly reasonable for a union member to ask their trade union - from time to time - for a proper progress report on their case.
To be fair, the union can't be expected to drop everything - and respond immediately to every minor point.
But they should be willing to provide proper feedback on what's happening - and to treat members with courtesy and respect.
If a member's case is being handled by a union lawyer - then the lawyer is also obliged to provide regular updates to clients - under rules laid down by the Law Society of Scotland.
So either way the point is if you have a sensible question - don't allow yourself to fobbed off - insist on getting a proper answer.
