What Ballot?
A number of readers from South Lanarkshire have been in touch - regarding claims made in a Unison Members Briefing - see the previous post 'Compare and Contrast' - which is reproduced below for easy reference.
The readers say that this never happened - that a ballot of all members definitely did not take place - whatever union officials might say.
Now no documents have been produced by the unions to substantiate this claim - but if you can throw any light on the subject - drop Mark Irvine a note, in confidence, at: markirvine@compuserve.com
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.
The readers say that this never happened - that a ballot of all members definitely did not take place - whatever union officials might say.
Now no documents have been produced by the unions to substantiate this claim - but if you can throw any light on the subject - drop Mark Irvine a note, in confidence, at: markirvine@compuserve.com
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.
