NLC Feedback



Readers in North Lanarkshire tell me that the local trade unions are trying to portray themselves in a positive light after the announcement that the Council has agreed to enter settlement talks over equal pay.

 Now I don't mind this because Action 4 Equality Scotland (A4ES) is happy to work with anyone, including the unions, in an effort to resolve all the outstanding Employment Tribunal cases. 

 But regular readers will be well aware that the unions have a terrible track record over equal pay, generally speaking, and have really been on the employers' side in many areas including next door South Lanarkshire Council, for example.

 In North Lanarkshire, the trade unions were of course represented on the Job Evaluation Steering Group (JESG) which oversaw the introduction of new pay arrangements within the Council after a new job evaluation scheme (JES) was introduced in 2006.

 The unions were also consulted over the Equality Impact Assessment carried out by the Council which was supposed to identify any problems or deficiencies with the JES, but failed miserably to protect the interests of the various jobs done mainly by women - so quite how did that happen?

 And, of course, the trade unions were also aware of the pay arrangements which flowed from the JES and which ended up treating the Council's male jobs which ended much more favourably than their female colleagues.

So the trade unions have much to be modest about if you ask me.

 And the best thing to do now is to keep the focus firmly on the Council and its botched JES until there are firm proposals on the table for putting things to right.

Popular posts from this blog

LGB Rights - Hijacked By Intolerant Zealots!

Image
Now that we're a month away from the month formerly known as June, we can think about what's happened. Given the new events being rolled out in London, Manchester and across the States, I think this sums up the *erm* transition of Pride. H/T @LGBNOW pic.twitter.com/HL87yIXXHg — Fred Sargeant (@FredSargeant) August 2, 2023 No doubt about it - the once proud campaign in support of lesbian and gay rights has been hijacked by intolerant trans zealots!     
Read more

SNP - Conspiracy of Silence

Image
So here's the issue - two Glasgow MSPs (Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf) have been asked a reasonable question about their use of public money to employ two SNP councillors who already have full-time, salaried jobs as senior elected members of Glasgow City Council.   But these two public servants (both long-serving ministers) refuse to answer, so what to do next? One regular reader suggests raising the matter on the floor of the Scottish Parliament which is a good idea, but requires an MSP who's prepared to put down a written question for Scottish Ministers to answer. So here's a list of activities which will help shine a light on what has been going on because as Lord Nolan once said apropos driving up standards in public life - 'daylight is the best disinfectant'. Write to the leader of Glasgow City Council Write to the Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council Write to all elected members in Glasgow City Council Write to the party leaders in Glasgow City Council W
Read more