Taking Responsibility (29/03/14)
Lots of readers have been in touch recently to say that they were given poor advice by their trade unions on the subject of equal pay.
In some cases the readers say that they were discouraged from pursuing equal pay claims and told, in no uncertain terms, that they were wasting their time.
Now I obviously don't know what was actually said, when things were said or by whom such advice was given.
So what I would do is to write to the union concerned setting out exactly what happened and whether or not any other people, such as other union members, were involved who may have witnessed these alleged events.
If poor or negligent advice has been issued, then I would expect any union worth its salt to compensate members for any financial loss that has been suffered, as a result of following the union's advice.
And if the union concerned does not respond in a reasonable or satisfactory way, having regard to all the available evidence, I would seek legal advice on the possibility of bringing a claim for negligence.
Because the bottom line is that union members should not be expected to lose out for doing what the union tells them to do - over equal pay or anything else.
In some cases the readers say that they were discouraged from pursuing equal pay claims and told, in no uncertain terms, that they were wasting their time.
Now I obviously don't know what was actually said, when things were said or by whom such advice was given.
So what I would do is to write to the union concerned setting out exactly what happened and whether or not any other people, such as other union members, were involved who may have witnessed these alleged events.
If poor or negligent advice has been issued, then I would expect any union worth its salt to compensate members for any financial loss that has been suffered, as a result of following the union's advice.
And if the union concerned does not respond in a reasonable or satisfactory way, having regard to all the available evidence, I would seek legal advice on the possibility of bringing a claim for negligence.
Because the bottom line is that union members should not be expected to lose out for doing what the union tells them to do - over equal pay or anything else.
