Gender Equality in NLC
The BBC reports that two of the candidates in the Scottish Labour leadership race, Jim Murphy and Neil Findlay, have both announced proposals aimed at achieving gender equality which are perfectly worthy of public debate, but in practical terms are years away from making any difference to people's lives.
So instead of titling at such windmills, politically speaking, I have an idea - why don't readers in North Lanarkshire ask these gentlemen what they think of Labour-run North Lanarkshire Council and its behaviour in relation to equal pay?
Because thousands of low paid women workers have been badly let down by this Labour Council, there has been widespread and systematic discrimination against female dominated jobs - yet the Labour hierarchy in Scotland has nothing to say, which tells me that Jim Murphy and Neil Findlay have their priorities all wrong.
So if readers would like to drop Jim and Neil a note to ask what they would do about North Lanarkshire Council, as potential future leaders of Scottish Labour, then here are their respective email addresses:
Jim Murphy, MP - jimmurphymp@parliament.uk
Neil Findlay, MSP - Neil.Findlay.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
In recent years North Lanarkshire Council has also been paying its most senior officials big 'performance bonuses' worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, while the rest of the workforce has faced a policy of public sector pay restraint.
Now what does that say about a major Labour-run Council, Scottish Labour and the party's MPs and MSPs who have all kept their heads down during the long fight for equal pay in North Lanarkshire?
Everything you need to know, if you ask me.
Scottish Labour leadership: Findlay and Murphy in gender equality pledge
Jim Murphy and Neil Findlay are standing in the Scottish Labour Party leadership election
Two Scottish Labour leadership candidates have announced a series of measures aimed at achieving gender equality.
MP Jim Murphy has proposed reforms including a requirement for equal representation in the Scottish Cabinet.
MSP Neil Findlay has made policy pledges including a Scottish law to address the gender pay gap.
The pair are standing in the leadership contest alongside MSP Sarah Boyack.
On his campaign website, Mr Murphy wrote: "If I am elected first minister, I promise the women of Scotland that equality will be at the heart of everything a Labour Scottish government will do."
The MP for East Renfrewshire has pledged to fill at least half of a future Labour Scottish government Cabinet with women.
Two Scottish Labour leadership candidates have announced a series of measures aimed at achieving gender equality.
MP Jim Murphy has proposed reforms including a requirement for equal representation in the Scottish Cabinet.
MSP Neil Findlay has made policy pledges including a Scottish law to address the gender pay gap.
The pair are standing in the leadership contest alongside MSP Sarah Boyack.
On his campaign website, Mr Murphy wrote: "If I am elected first minister, I promise the women of Scotland that equality will be at the heart of everything a Labour Scottish government will do."
The MP for East Renfrewshire has pledged to fill at least half of a future Labour Scottish government Cabinet with women.
Sarah Boyack is also standing as a candidate in the Scottish Labour leadership election
The addition of ministers Shona Robison and Angela Constance to the current Cabinet in April this year means women currently make up 40% of its members.
The move came after the SNP administration announced it wanted to achieve at least 40% female representation on public boards, and called for powers over equality to be passed to the Scottish Parliament.
As well as his cabinet commitment, Mr Murphy also wants to introduce equal representation for women and men on the boards of public bodies accountable to the Scottish government.
He has also committed to conducting a government impact assessment of the new powers for Holyrood to determine their effect on women in Scotland, and to campaign for private firms with more than 250 employees to publish their pay gap.
Mr Murphy said: "There are some male politicians who maybe shy away from getting involved in campaigns for women's rights.
The addition of ministers Shona Robison and Angela Constance to the current Cabinet in April this year means women currently make up 40% of its members.
The move came after the SNP administration announced it wanted to achieve at least 40% female representation on public boards, and called for powers over equality to be passed to the Scottish Parliament.
As well as his cabinet commitment, Mr Murphy also wants to introduce equal representation for women and men on the boards of public bodies accountable to the Scottish government.
He has also committed to conducting a government impact assessment of the new powers for Holyrood to determine their effect on women in Scotland, and to campaign for private firms with more than 250 employees to publish their pay gap.
Mr Murphy said: "There are some male politicians who maybe shy away from getting involved in campaigns for women's rights.
"But a big part of leadership is listening. And that's why I am announcing a radical package of reforms today to advance the cause of women. It is because of the campaigning work of strong, passionate, powerful Scottish Labour women that this issue has risen so far up the political agenda.
"And it is because so many women in our movement have demanded change that the country has sat up and taken notice."
Mr Findlay's pledges also include more free and affordable childcare, better access for women to further and higher education, a "modern day slavery bill to protect vulnerable women from physical and sexual exploitation", and making tackling domestic violence a top priority.
"I'm in politics to tackle inequality, and inequality is at its most glaringly unjust as it applies to women. In society as a whole, and in the workplace in particular, women don't get a fair deal," Mr Findlay said.
"If we are going to win in the future women need to know that Labour will deliver policies that will change their lives - I'm advocating policies that will do that."
The outcome of the leadership election will be known in mid December.
"And it is because so many women in our movement have demanded change that the country has sat up and taken notice."
Mr Findlay's pledges also include more free and affordable childcare, better access for women to further and higher education, a "modern day slavery bill to protect vulnerable women from physical and sexual exploitation", and making tackling domestic violence a top priority.
"I'm in politics to tackle inequality, and inequality is at its most glaringly unjust as it applies to women. In society as a whole, and in the workplace in particular, women don't get a fair deal," Mr Findlay said.
"If we are going to win in the future women need to know that Labour will deliver policies that will change their lives - I'm advocating policies that will do that."
The outcome of the leadership election will be known in mid December.
