Red Letter Day

Today is a 'red letter' day because this is a day I've been working towards for the best part of 10 years.

A day that Action 4 Equality Scotland (A4ES) has finally reached, I'm delighted to say, a settlement of all its outstanding equal pay claims with South Lanarkshire Council.

Now I've said a great deal about equal pay down the years so I'm happy to let the blog site archive speak for itself.

Because I don't feel the need to blow my own trumpet or say a great deal more at this stage, except perhaps to remind readers that there are still some people around who insisted that this day would never come.

Well how wrong were they?

As for me, I am simply over the moon that the A4ES clients who have stuck with us all these years will now get what they richly deserve and that really is fantastic news, especially as the great majority are (or were) low paid women workers.

I have to admit it's been a bit of a roller coaster of a ride at times, but we got there in the end and that's the main thing - that's what really counts.

A joint press statement from A4ES and South Lanarkshire Council has been released and  is attached below for information - further information will follow in due course and every A4ES client will receive an individual detailed letter to explain what happens next.

So for the moment, I'm sure that regular readers will understand that as soon as I've finished this particular post, I plan to head out for a little while to take in the bracing Glasgow air - and reflect on the tumultuous events of the past 10 years.

Because my work in South Lanarkshire is now coming to an end and I'd like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone who helped get us to where we are today.

PRESS RELEASE
JOINT STATEMENT
by

South Lanarkshire Council, Action 4 Equality (Scotland) Limited and Fox and Partners
SOUTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL EQUAL PAY SETTLEMENT

A SETTLEMENT on equal pay has been reached between South Lanarkshire Council and the representatives of more than 3,000 claimants.

The agreement follows several months of settlement discussions between the council and Fox and Partners, Stefan Cross QC and Action 4 Equality Scotland Ltd, and has been welcomed by all parties. The settlement was approved by the council’s Executive Committee today [26 February 2014].

Paul Manning, the council’s Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, said: “South Lanarkshire has long been committed to equality of pay for those in comparable jobs, regardless of gender. We are glad to be in a position to continue to lead the way on this issue by settling with these claimants.”

Carol Fox, of Fox and Partners, said: “This has been a complex and long-running case but we are delighted that we have been able to secure a settlement that we can recommend to our clients.

“It has taken a considerable amount of time and legal work to progress a mass settlement for more than 3,000 individual claimants. We will be contacting everyone in due course to outline what the settlement means for them, and we ask everyone for their continued patience and co-operation as we do that in the coming months.”

Stefan Cross QC added: “This is good news for our clients and brings to an end an important chapter in the equal pay issue.”

The full details of the overall settlement will remain confidential.

The latest round of negotiations started last August after South Lanarkshire Council Leader Eddie McAvoy asked officers to start talks with a view to a possible settlement.

Councillor McAvoy said: “The administration has been guided throughout this process by the legal advice we have received, but we’ve always been very clear that any claimants who were entitled to additional money should get it.

“Towards the end of last year it seemed that the circumstances were right to try to achieve a negotiated settlement, and I am pleased that the talks have concluded successfully.”