Better Late

I was pleased to see that trade union claimants in Edinburgh had some good news the other other day - about their equal pay claims finally being settled by the City Council.

The group involved are former APT&C workers - who do a variety of jobs such as classroom assistants, clerical workers, social care workers and senior catering staff - all of whom were being paid less than traditional, male jobs such as refuse workers and gardeners.

Now these claims were settled on behalf of Action 4 Equality Scotland clients much earlier in the year - see post below dated 20 January 2012 - so it's good to hear that  the trade union claimants in Edinburgh are no longer being messed about.

I hope other Scottish councils with similar outstanding claims will do the decent thing and get their fingers out - because they've really no excuse for dragging their feet.

The scandalous thing is that more former APT&C workers haven't registered claims - although in many areas the trade unions haven't exactly encouraged their members to do so.

Even though this former APT&C group had equal pay claims every bit as valid as female manual workers - doing other catering, cleaning, caring and support jobs. 

Edinburgh Speaks Out (20 January 2012)

I was in Edinburgh yesterday and met a lovely group of women - who were just back from BBC Scotland to share their experiences about the long fight for equal pay - in Scotland's capital city.

The women were all clients of Action 4 Equality Scotland - having been represented in the long-running court battle by Fox Cross Solicitors.

So we had a great old chat and reminisced about the times - years ago now - when these women came to meetings in various 'airts and pairts' of Edinburgh - to discuss equal pay - often on cold windswept days and nights, as I recall.

But all these years later the women are now reaping the rewards - despite being kept in the dark by their trade unions - and being discouraged from taking a stand against the widespread pay discrimination - that was as plain as the nose on your face.

I just glad that they made the right decision - along with many of their colleagues.

What these women had to tell BBC Scotland was reported on the radio earlier today - and I think I'm right in saying that the piece will being featured again on TV later this evening - on the BBC's Reporting Scotland at 6.30pm.

The BBC journalist who put the package together said that COSLA - the self-styled 'voice' of Scottish local government - had been invited to comment on the issues raised - but declined to do so.

Imagine that - the voice of Scotland's 32 councils losing its power of speech - and at such a vital and important time.

Draw your own conclusions.