Sign the Petition!
I've just had word from the House of Commons that my petition has now gone 'live'.
So click on the following link to read the petition and start sharing it with other people who want to see trade unions becoming more accountable to their members:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/109616
"Government should introduce an independent complaints process for trade unions."
In 1999 Scotland's council employers and the trade unions (GMB, Unison and Unite) agreed to end widespread pay discrimination against low paid predominantly female jobs including carers, catering workers, cleaners, clerical workers and classroom assistants - but this commitment was never delivered.
In 2005 thousands of equal pay claims were lodged in employment tribunals after a campaign led by Action 4 Equality Scotland. Many individual members lost out because of poor advice from their unions. For example, in North Lanarkshire where the GMB restricted members' claims to only 3 years and South Lanarkshire where members were advised not to pursue claims against their local Labour-run council. An independent complaints process would bring unions into line with other areas of public life.