North Lanarkshire Update

A large number of union members from North Lanarkshire have been in touch to say that they are being given the 'run around' by their trade unions over equal pay.

Now I'm not surprised I have to say since not everybody seems to have been at the top of their game, as far as protecting the interests of ordinary union members is concerned.

So I wouldn't mess about with local union officials, I would contact the union's regional secretary or general secretary down in London.

Although the real solution as I've said on the blog site before is for union members to have the ability to complain to an independent watchdog, if they are unhappy with the level of service from their trade union.

And that's an issue people may wish to take up with their MSPs and MPs as well. 

North Lanarkshire (20/11/14)

The trade unions in North Lanarkshire are belatedly waking up to the fact that their friends who have been running the Council (i.e. Labour councillors) have made a complete mess of equal pay.

So my jaw dropped, I have to admit, when I received this email written by a Unite regional officer which has been passed on to me by a kind reader. 

Because the email makes little sense and is full of terrible spelling mistakes, while giving the impression that the unions are completely clueless on how to hold North Lanarkshire to account over equal pay.

Now the reason I say this is that the same 'Senior Councillors' have been running North Lanarkshire Council for years, helped by financial and other backing from the big Labour supporting unions - Unite, Unison and GMB.

So if you ask me, the solution is not to be found in appealing to their 'better natures' after all this time; the solution is to get rid of them altogether and the first chance to do just that comes in May 2015 when all four of North Lanarkshire's MPs are up for re-election.

And the prospect of a Labour-free zone in one of its Scottish heartlands would force the Labour hierarchy to face up to the behaviour of a major Scottish council which has been run by the Labour Party for the past 15 years.

No doubt it will also bring a swift resolution to North Lanarkshire's outstanding equal pay claims.   

Subject: Fwd: Equal Pay - Councillor Surgery Protestsk
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014

Dear All

How long have woman to wait to be paid there long awaited payments- enough is enough, All Unions have now decided to rally Senior Councillors who in effect are the politicians who have it first hand and is knowledgeable on this matter, and ultimately can make these changes and agree payouts to the people who are owed.

Can I ask that this e-mail is sent far and wide to your Colleagues who are owed Equal Pay by NLC 

Tam Connarty
Regional Officer
Unite the Union
Glasgow Office