Politics and Equal Pay
The Herald newspaper reports today that the penny may have finally dropped - for the many Labour councillors in Glasgow.
Suddenly it's dawned on them that Labour might actually lose control of Glasgow City Council - for the first time ever - at next year's local elections in May 2012.
Here's something I posted recently about Single Status and Equal Pay.
But what I say about the trade unions - is equally true of the Scotland's big councils - which were all Labour controlled at the time.
Because these councils betrayed their lowest paid workers - every bit as much as the Labour supporting trade unions.
And as the employers they had even more responsibility - arguably - to keep their promises on equal pay.
So I'm not surprised that Labour councillors in Glasgow are now very anxious about the future - because the Labour party's name is 'mud' amongst many of its own employees.
For the way the Labour-led council - and Labour councillors - behaved over Single Status and Equal Pay.
Action 4 Equality Scotland is currently pursuing the best part of 5,000 equal pay claims - on behalf of low paid workers in Glasgow City Council.
I can't imagine any of those people - or their families - will look favourably on the role that Labour councillors have played on equal pay - when it comes to the 2012 local elections.
The same will be true in other councils - where Labour has ruled with an 'iron rod' for years - and taken people so badly for granted.
So wake up and smell the coffee - all you Labour counciilors in Glasgow and elsewhere.
Because the time is always right - to do the right thing.
Spineless Trade Unions (18 May 2011)
A number of Unison members from South Lanarkshire have been in touch - having attended a union meeting the other night.
What they can't understand is why their union keeps sticking up for their employer - South Lanarkshire Council - instead of standing up and doing the right thing by their members, so they say.
Well, I don't know the answer to that mystery - I'm afraid - all I can say is that the trade unions are far too party political and partisan - for my liking.
Which is why I decided to leave Unison many years ago.
Trade unions should transcend party politics - in my opinion.
But what we get these days is an insidious, dishonest relationship - where the unions often look at the big issues on the basis of what is good or bad for their friends - in the Labour party.
And to be honest that is why the issue of Equal Pay hit a roadblock after the 1999 Single Status Agreement in Scotland - the big Labour controlled councils (at the time) took fright at the cost - and lost their bottle.
And the Labour supporting trade unions - lacked the political will and courage to take these Labour councils on.
So instead of the trade unions in Scotland relating to council employers in a truly independent way - without fear or favour - we get a relationship between the two that is by turns 'corrupt' and 'corrupting'.
In my opinion, of course.
So the message to union members in South Lanarkshire is - don't give up or give in - just redouble your efforts to make your trade union reflect the views and wishes of its members - instead of simply trotting out the old party line.
For example, demand that the unions tell you what traditional male jobs get paid.
Because the trade unions know the answer to that question - as well as South Lanarkshire Council.
Suddenly it's dawned on them that Labour might actually lose control of Glasgow City Council - for the first time ever - at next year's local elections in May 2012.
Here's something I posted recently about Single Status and Equal Pay.
But what I say about the trade unions - is equally true of the Scotland's big councils - which were all Labour controlled at the time.
Because these councils betrayed their lowest paid workers - every bit as much as the Labour supporting trade unions.
And as the employers they had even more responsibility - arguably - to keep their promises on equal pay.
So I'm not surprised that Labour councillors in Glasgow are now very anxious about the future - because the Labour party's name is 'mud' amongst many of its own employees.
For the way the Labour-led council - and Labour councillors - behaved over Single Status and Equal Pay.
Action 4 Equality Scotland is currently pursuing the best part of 5,000 equal pay claims - on behalf of low paid workers in Glasgow City Council.
I can't imagine any of those people - or their families - will look favourably on the role that Labour councillors have played on equal pay - when it comes to the 2012 local elections.
The same will be true in other councils - where Labour has ruled with an 'iron rod' for years - and taken people so badly for granted.
So wake up and smell the coffee - all you Labour counciilors in Glasgow and elsewhere.
Because the time is always right - to do the right thing.
Spineless Trade Unions (18 May 2011)
A number of Unison members from South Lanarkshire have been in touch - having attended a union meeting the other night.
What they can't understand is why their union keeps sticking up for their employer - South Lanarkshire Council - instead of standing up and doing the right thing by their members, so they say.
Well, I don't know the answer to that mystery - I'm afraid - all I can say is that the trade unions are far too party political and partisan - for my liking.
Which is why I decided to leave Unison many years ago.
Trade unions should transcend party politics - in my opinion.
But what we get these days is an insidious, dishonest relationship - where the unions often look at the big issues on the basis of what is good or bad for their friends - in the Labour party.
And to be honest that is why the issue of Equal Pay hit a roadblock after the 1999 Single Status Agreement in Scotland - the big Labour controlled councils (at the time) took fright at the cost - and lost their bottle.
And the Labour supporting trade unions - lacked the political will and courage to take these Labour councils on.
So instead of the trade unions in Scotland relating to council employers in a truly independent way - without fear or favour - we get a relationship between the two that is by turns 'corrupt' and 'corrupting'.
In my opinion, of course.
So the message to union members in South Lanarkshire is - don't give up or give in - just redouble your efforts to make your trade union reflect the views and wishes of its members - instead of simply trotting out the old party line.
For example, demand that the unions tell you what traditional male jobs get paid.
Because the trade unions know the answer to that question - as well as South Lanarkshire Council.
