Unions in South Lanarkshire
Here are a few other posts about the behaviour of the trade unions in South Lanarkshire Council.
If you've got something to say or share about what's been going on - drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com
Having A Laugh
The 'Members Briefing' from Unison in South Lanarkshire is proving to be a big hit with readers - though for all the wrong reasons as far as the local union branch is concerned.
Here's another little gem from from December 2005 - setting out Unison's 'advice' to members on - Single Status, Equal Pay and South Lanarkshire:
"In brief, other councils are now rushing to catch up with the position arrived at in South Lanarkshire some time ago."
Now whoever wrote this must have been having a laugh - because no other council in Scotland has done what South Lanarkshire Council has done.
Seems to me that Unison was just acting as a mouthpiece for South Lanarkshire Council.
Instead of standing up for the interests of their low paid women members - who have lost out - compared to their counterparts in other Scottish councils.
Unison Briefing
A number of readers from South Lanarkshire have already been in touch - to ask if they can get a copy of the notorious Unison branch briefing on Single Status.
Well, the answer is - of course you can.
All you need to do is to drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com - and I'll send you a copy straight back.
Angry union members should use this document - which is dated 1 December 2005 by the way - to ask some very pointed questions of the local Unison branch.
Because the advice to local Unison members has been completely contradictory - and many union members may have lost out - as a result.
See previous post dated 19 November 2010 - 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even'.
Compare and Contrast
A kind reader from South Lanarkshire has sent in a Unison 'Members Briefing' from December 2005 - which makes the union look completely daft.
Here's an extract of what it says;
"Councils and unions also had to cooperate to introduce a Job Evaluation system that measured jobs and ensured that jobs of equal value were paid equally - 'equal pay for work of equal value'.
Across the country employers refused to progress local negotiations either never started or proceeded very slowly. Except in South Lanarkshire, where the council were keen to progress.
Negotiations led to the introduction of the common conditions for all staff and the implementation of the Council's job evaluation scheme - the Competence Initiative.
UNISON, GMB and TGWU were fully involved in the negotiations. Finally, following a ballot of all members, an agreement was reached."
So in December 2005 - Unison were acting as cheerleaders for South Lanarkshire Council - extolling the virtues of a local Single Status Agreement - which 'the unions were fully involved in before an agreement was reached'.
Yet in November 2010 - the union finally admits that council employees may have a valid equal pay claim after all - here are Unison's latest thoughts which were published on the blog site recently
'We (Unison) recently commissioned an assessment of the scope for equal pay claims in South Lanarkshire - and we believe that as in other areas there may be some potential for some members being able to pursue equal pay claims'.
Now both statements can't be right - can they?
So lots of angry union members in South Lanarkshire - will be demanding to know - just what the hell's going on.
If you've got something to say or share about what's been going on - drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com
Having A Laugh
The 'Members Briefing' from Unison in South Lanarkshire is proving to be a big hit with readers - though for all the wrong reasons as far as the local union branch is concerned.
Here's another little gem from from December 2005 - setting out Unison's 'advice' to members on - Single Status, Equal Pay and South Lanarkshire:
"In brief, other councils are now rushing to catch up with the position arrived at in South Lanarkshire some time ago."
Now whoever wrote this must have been having a laugh - because no other council in Scotland has done what South Lanarkshire Council has done.
Seems to me that Unison was just acting as a mouthpiece for South Lanarkshire Council.
Instead of standing up for the interests of their low paid women members - who have lost out - compared to their counterparts in other Scottish councils.
Unison Briefing
A number of readers from South Lanarkshire have already been in touch - to ask if they can get a copy of the notorious Unison branch briefing on Single Status.
Well, the answer is - of course you can.
All you need to do is to drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com - and I'll send you a copy straight back.
Angry union members should use this document - which is dated 1 December 2005 by the way - to ask some very pointed questions of the local Unison branch.
Because the advice to local Unison members has been completely contradictory - and many union members may have lost out - as a result.
See previous post dated 19 November 2010 - 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even'.
Compare and Contrast
A kind reader from South Lanarkshire has sent in a Unison 'Members Briefing' from December 2005 - which makes the union look completely daft.
Here's an extract of what it says;
"Councils and unions also had to cooperate to introduce a Job Evaluation system that measured jobs and ensured that jobs of equal value were paid equally - 'equal pay for work of equal value'.
Across the country employers refused to progress local negotiations either never started or proceeded very slowly. Except in South Lanarkshire, where the council were keen to progress.
Negotiations led to the introduction of the common conditions for all staff and the implementation of the Council's job evaluation scheme - the Competence Initiative.
UNISON, GMB and TGWU were fully involved in the negotiations. Finally, following a ballot of all members, an agreement was reached."
So in December 2005 - Unison were acting as cheerleaders for South Lanarkshire Council - extolling the virtues of a local Single Status Agreement - which 'the unions were fully involved in before an agreement was reached'.
Yet in November 2010 - the union finally admits that council employees may have a valid equal pay claim after all - here are Unison's latest thoughts which were published on the blog site recently
'We (Unison) recently commissioned an assessment of the scope for equal pay claims in South Lanarkshire - and we believe that as in other areas there may be some potential for some members being able to pursue equal pay claims'.
Now both statements can't be right - can they?
So lots of angry union members in South Lanarkshire - will be demanding to know - just what the hell's going on.
