In Your Own Time
I came across this scarcely believable news report on the BBC Scotland web site - about the ongoing 'efforts' of the employer and trade unions in Aberdeenshire Council - to implement the 1999 Single Status (Equal Pay) Agreement.
Now the original version of this 'landmark agreement' was reached at a UK level in 1997 - but the employers in Scotland asked for further negotiations to fine tune certain aspects of the deal - which the trade unions agreed to at the time.
Hence the agreement in Scotland - which was designed to eliminate the widespread pay discrimination between traditional male and female council jobs - finally came into being two years later in July 1999.
So quite why the trade unions and the council employer in Aberdeenshire are still at it some 14/16 years later in 2013 - is a complete mystery which suggests that both sides are simply dragging their feet - though to what purpose is another question.
Perhaps there's more to it than meets the eye, but if so you would struggle to understand what's going on - from the public comments of the GMB and the council's chief executive.
Aberdeenshire Council withdraws plan to change staff terms
Aberdeenshire Council has withdrawn proposals to change the terms and conditions of thousands of staff, BBC Scotland has learned.
Last week members of the GMB union rejected a new offer from management in a ballot.
The changes to shift work and weekend allowances would have affected frontline staff, including care and day centre staff and refuse collectors.
The GMB Union said it was "great news" for its members.
Council chief executive Colin Mackenzie said: "The development of cost-effective and modern terms and conditions has been ongoing over the past year, involving negotiations and consultation with trade unions and affected staff.
"As a result, a significant number of concessions has already been made to the proposals to protect the salaries of our lower paid workers.
"Nonetheless, we have been unable to reach a local collective agreement and the decision has been taken to withdraw the proposals completely."
Mr Mackenzie added that the council remained committed to modernising its terms and conditions and would conduct a "more comprehensive review".
