North Lanarkshire Update

A number of readers from North Lanarkshire have been in touch about the GMB members' meetings which are taking place later this week on 18 and 19 June.

The members who have contacted me are concerned about the contents of a letter they have received which contains the following advice:

"We aim to discuss the current situation with your case and in particular the offer which has been suggested by North Lanarkshire Council.

We require to seek your instructions on whether or not you are prepared to accept what is currently being offered.

When we have everyone's instructions, we will take the matter up with North Lanarkshire Council.

Your claim remains live at the Employment Tribunal and these settlement discussions are outwith that process. 

"If the claims cannot be resolved by negotiation, they will be pursued to a conclusion by GMB on your behalf."

Now what I find very odd about this advice is that GMB members are only now being asked for their views and instructions, whereas this surely should have happened a very long time ago when the union and the union's solicitors decided to restrict GMB members' claims to a three-year protection period.

As things stand members are completely in the dark because they do not even know what settlement offer North Lanarkshire Council has made (via the GMB) or the basis on which this offer is being put forward.

Mots important of all is whether GMB members are given a clear and candid account of how they ended up in this situation.