Feedback from NLC
A reader from North Lanarkshire has been in touch about the recent reorganisation of certain male jobs within the Council and says that Refuse Workers were paid a lump sum of £1,300 and Refuse Drivers £1,800 - to accept changes to their shift patterns.
The reader also says that Home Support Workers are also being asked to change their shifts, but unlike their male colleagues the women are not being offered any incentive to do so by Council management.
Now I find that very strange.
Because after all that's happened over equal pay in recent years you would think that North Lanarkshire would find it hard, if not impossible, to justify treating male and female jobs so differently.
So I think I'll send a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to the Council to check exactly what is going on and if anyone can shed some light on the situation, drop me a note in confidence to: markirvine@compuserve.com
Feedback from NLC (12 April 2014)
I've received an email from a reader in North Lanarkshire to say that recent moves to new working arrangements amongst refuse workers have been accompanied by an additional payment from the Council.
Now I'm intrigued by this news and would be delighted to hear from anyone who can put some more 'flesh on the bones' so to speak.
Something similar happened in South Lanarkshire Council in 2013 and a number of refuse workers came forward to explain what was going on which ultimately helped get a resolution of all the outstanding equal pay claims for the women workers.
So if anyone can help with the inside story of what's going on in North Lanarkshire, drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com
In confidence, of course.
Feedback from NLC (11 April 2014)
A Home Support Worker from North Lanarkshire has been in touch to say that she has been speaking with a neighbour who works in one of the Council's traditional male jobs.
And the person concerned is prepared to pass on details of how his particular job is paid and organised - including an explanation of recent changes brought in by Council management.
Here's what I said in an earlier post.
Traditional Male Jobs
In other councils, men in the traditional male jobs - refuse workers and gardeners etc - have played a crucial role in passing on information about the differences in pay and the way these jobs are organised. Claimants will often know male workers who work in these jobs as they might be neighbours, relatives or friends. The male workers understand that the fight is with the employer and that no one is attacking their jobs or the pay they receive - because the fight is all about a fair deal for the women workers.
So if anyone has a friend, neighbour or a relative who is able to pass on useful information then drop me a note because I'm happy to meet up and have a word - in complete confidence of course.
But the more information I can lay my hands on the better, so let's hope people get stuck in and see what they can find out - I'm willing to meet with anyone who is willing to lend a hand, in confidence of course.
