NLC Update (10/12/15)
A reader from North Lanarkshire has been in touch to say that she has received a speedy and helpful reply from Alex Neil MSP in response to her enquiry about the outstanding equal pay claims of Sheltered Housing Wardens, Clerical Workers and Classroom Assistants.
I recently posted contact details for MSPs white constituencies fall with North Lanarkshire Council's boundaries and, hopefully, other claimants are rating the issue with their local members of parliament as well.
Alex Neil has always been to the fore in the fight for equal pay, in both North and South Lanarkshire, although I can't say the same about local Labour politicians, sadly.
More to follow including another chance to catch Randy Newman and 'Short People', by special request.
Hi Mark
As usual I received a speedy and accurate response from Alex Neil. Please see below.
Thanks for everything.
I do enjoy your musical tastes too; the Randy Newman "Short People" made me laugh.
A
From: Alex.Neil.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Date: 3 Dec 2015 09:05
Subject: A letter from Alex Neil MSP to Paul Jukes, Chief Executive, NLC
To: parliamentaryenquiries@northlan.gov.uk
Dear Paul
I am writing to you on behalf of the Sheltered Housing Officers who work for North Lanarkshire Council
As you know they have been fighting for years now to get equal pay status, to which they are clearly entitled
These officers do an excellent job and the people they serve, our elderly and sometimes disabled community, value highly the job they do
It seems that North Lanarkshire Council is the only organisation which doesn't recognise the value and importance of these people.
The council has wasted a great deal of taxpayers money fighting against these workers to try to get their entitlement to equal pay and status stopped. It is a disgrace and an outrage that the council has done this.
I believe that at the Tribunal in Glasgow recently the presiding judge preferred the evidence of the workers against that of the council.
Despite that the council is apparently still refusing to pay up and to recognise that the job these officers do is highly skilled and sometimes life-saving
I am therefore writing to urge the council to stop this vendetta against these workers. Pay them what they rightly deserve and do so before Christmas
I look forward to hearing from you
Yours sincerely
Alex Neil MSP