Speaking the Truth
A regular reader from South Lanarkshire has written to the new leader of the Scottish Labour party - Johann Lamont - here's what they had to say:
“As The Labour Leader in Scotland Johann I presume you are aware of the long running claim that female workers in South Lanarkshire have against the Labour run council.
The council have steadfastly refused to release information requested by the solicitors acting on behalf of the low paid women employees typically home care workers etc. They refuse to release the information about the pay structure of similar low skilled male dominated jobs such as grave diggers and refuse workers etc. even after being instructed to do so by the Scottish Information Commissioner.
The Council then appealed to the Courts to be allowed to keep this information secret. This was thrown out by the Court of Session on the 27th March in a judgment by Lord Marnoch who said that the Council should release the information as “ it is important to achieve transparency on the subject of equal pay”.
As of last week the Council have said that they have not decided whether they will release the information or indeed what course of action they will take now.
Whatever course of action they decide to take now and indeed all the courses of action that they have taken in the past in order to block the payments to these low paid women workers will result in further cost to the tax payers of South Lanarkshire.
It beggars the question that do this council think they are above the Law and that the Freedom of information Act does not apply to them in particular as every other Council in Scotland has released this information and have been found wanting in their desire for Equal pay for Women and had to pay out large settlements in back pay.
Like the solicitor pursuing the claims for these women I wrote to Ian Gray who was the Labour Leader in the run up to the Elections in 2001 who publicly slated the SNP Government for failing to comply with an order from the Information Commissioner. Needless to say Mr Gray did not reply to my question.
It reminds me of the novel I read whilst in Secondary school, Animal Farm by George Orwell which helped form my political views and has done so throughout my adult life. It seems like South Lanarkshire Council are applying the sort of rules that the pigs came up with when they were in charge of Manor Farm in that everybody is equal but some more than others.
I have been a Labour Supporter and voter all of my adult life as was my parents and grandparents before them however I am struggling with the notion that a Labour led Council would bend the rules to suppress the rights of low paid women workers. Barbara Castle will be turning in her grave knowing how a Labour Council would be behaving like this.
I wonder Johann if you are a woman in the mould of Barbara Castle or are you like all the other politicians who would turn a blind eye to behavior like this from members of their own party.
KF"
Now that's what I call speaking the truth - telling it as it is - or hitting the nail on the head.
Because Labour-run South Lanarkshire Council - should be thoroughly ashamed of its behaviour.
