Women for Independence
Because 15 years ago Scottish local government was controlled by big Labour councils, the Scottish Government was Labour-led, the Labour Government at Westminster had an overall majority and the public sector trade unions (GMB, Unison and Unite) all supported Labour, and the leaders of these unions were all individual Labour Party members.
Yet for reasons only these people can explain the Scottish council employers and Scottish Government financed a mammoth £800 million a year pay deal for teachers (in the year 2000) - while reneging on the 1999 Single Status (Equal Pay) Agreement which promised to end years of pay discrimination against thousands of low paid, predominantly female, council jobs.
So I'm not in the least surprised to learn that Carol Fox has decided to leave the Labour Party and that Carol's experience of dealing with equal pay in Scotland has played a big part in her decision.
And here's how Carol explains her thinking in an article for Women for Independence which ought to worry Labour because the party's reputation, for good reason, is going through the floor.
Carol Fox, Equalities Lawyer and Former Labour Parliamentary Candidate.
Until last year I was a member of the Labour Party. I was also candidate in the Scottish Parliament elections of 1999, 2003 and 2007. Following a great deal of thought I finally resigned my membership after 30 years. As an individual member I was not consulted about the ‘Better together’ strategy of working with the Tories to ensure that Scotland remained within the UK. Having spent my entire adult life fighting against Tory policies as a social worker, trade union official and an equality lawyer I was profoundly uncomfortable and disillusioned with the negativity of this campaign and the lack of imagination for the future of Scotland.
I wanted the intellectual and political freedom to make up by own mind. But I hesitated for some time as there did not appear to be the political space where embracing YES did not automatically mean you were seen to join the Nationalist camp. Neither, as a socialist and feminist, did I want to fall by default into the SSP campaign, despite pressures close to home. I felt quite stuck and politically isolated for several months. Finally, I made contact with Margo McDonald MSP who kindly took time out of her busy schedule to meet me and talk through the various political paths which can lead to a Yes vote. I suspect that, like me, there are very many thousands of Scottish voters who are hesitant to be seen as a nationalist supporter but who want to vote YES.
In addition a number of serious factors made me rethink my misplaced dedication to the UK Labour Party, not least the struggle for equal pay. My party not only failed to address this inequality when it had the chance, but remained silent as gender pay inequality was perpetuated and defended by Labour Councils. As an equality lawyer fighting mass equal pay cases it became impossible for me to ignore the role of elected Labour politicians , both locally and nationally, who failed to speak out or stand up for the interests of ordinary working women. I could not in good conscience remain in a political party which demonstrated such disrespect to many thousands of low paid women. These legal cases are nearly a decade old and yet are still being defended by Labour Councils using tax payers’ money. Tragically over 100 people have died while these cases have been delayed and defended. Hopefully, in the end with further determination and stamina to keep fighting the system, their families will benefit from future compensation. ‘Better together’ has not been the philosophy nor the reality experienced by very many thousands of Scottish working women who ask themselves every day of the week who is standing up for our interests?
I want to vote YES to build a better Scotland than this. A country where equality can become a reality, not only for the women I represent as a lawyer but for my family and my daughter. My parents are now in their late 70s and they too will be voting Yes. After a lifetime of hard work they want to bequeath greater democratic control to their children and grandchildren. I truly believe that we can build a more progressive, democratic and fairer Scotland with greater opportunities for future generations - where equality is a founding principle not just an afterthought. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We all need to take our courage in our hands to help to build a Scotland where women do not die waiting for equal pay to become a reality. We can all find a way to take part in the campaign and to optimistically embrace a positive vision for the people of Scotland. I want to play my part.
