Glasgow City Council Update
A number of readers from Glasgow have been in touch to say that the trade unions locally have suddenly 'burst into fairy lights' after years of activity over equal pay with unsolicited letters dropping through people's doors in recent days.
Now I'm not surprised about this, I have to say, because the trade unions in Glasgow lost all credibility after encouraging their members to accept very low offers of settlement back in 2005/06 - and as a result many of their lowest paid members (mainly women) lost out to the tune of thousands of pounds.
A important letter explaining the implications of the recent Employment Appeal Tribunal decision is on its way to all A4ES claimants in Glasgow, but there is no need for people to take any action at this stage unless your personal circumstances have changed.
So sit tight, don't listen to nonsense from the trade unions locally and read the following post on what to do if your personal circumstances have changed since your equal pay claim was first registered with Action 4 Equality Scotland.
Action 4 Equality Scotland
Lots of people's personal details have changed address since their claims were first registered several years ago and anyone who falls into that category should send an email to the A4ES office confirming the following:
1 Change of name (if divorced and remarried)
2 Old address and post code
3 New address and post code
4 National Insurance (NI) number
5 Contact phone number and email address
6 Details of any job changes and/or date of retirement
Other claimants are anxious as to whether their claims are still valid after all these years later, but not everyone appreciates that their claims actually rest with Action 4 Equality Scotland - and not one of the various law firms (going back to Stefan Cross Solicitors) which have represented A4ES clients in the employment tribunal proceedings over the years.
HBJ Gateley are now working with A4ES as far as the employment tribunal work is concerned and if you ask me, they are doing a mighty fine job as well.
6 Details of any job changes and/or date of retirement
Other claimants are anxious as to whether their claims are still valid after all these years later, but not everyone appreciates that their claims actually rest with Action 4 Equality Scotland - and not one of the various law firms (going back to Stefan Cross Solicitors) which have represented A4ES clients in the employment tribunal proceedings over the years.
So if anyone was previously in receipt of correspondence from Stefan Cross Solicitors, Fox Cross Solicitors or Fox and Partners Solicitors, then your claim has been passed on to Action 4 Equality Scotland.
Please use email, wherever possible, to raise any queries because that is by far the best way to notify the A4ES office of any change in personal circumstances.
Here are contact details for Action 4 Equality Scotland - including a new telephone number .
Action 4 Equality Scotland
10 York Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3EP
Email: enquiries@action4equality.co.uk
10 York Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3EP
Email: enquiries@action4equality.co.uk
Phone: 0131 659 9958
**Stop Press** (04/09/15)
Action 4 Equality Scotland is pleased to announce that arrangements have been agreed for HBJ Gateley to take over the representation of A4ES clients, with immediate effect, as far as future work at the Employment Tribunals is concerned.
HBJ Gateley is a large and highly respected law firm, one of the most successful in Scotland, and the arrangements with A4ES follow on from those made previously with Stefan Cross Solicitors, Fox Cross Solicitors and Fox and Partners Solicitors.
I have personal experience of working with HBJ Gateley in the past and I am confident that A4ES clients will continue to receive the same first class level of service they are entitled to expect.
More information will follow in the days ahead, but as I said in an earlier post to the blog site there is no need for A4ES clients to do anything at this stage - other than to sit tight.
Breaking News (17/08/15)
I've had a few enquiries today from readers who are a bit confused about letters they have received from Fox and Partners Solicitors which is ceasing to practice at the end of this month.
The position is that Fox and Partners (FAP) is the latest in a line of law firms which Action 4 Equality Scotland has instructed to represent our clients interests at Employment Tribunal hearings, the others being Stefan Cross Solicitors and Fox Cross Solicitors.
So all former equal pay clients of FAP continue to be clients of Action 4 Equality Scotland and A4ES will take responsibility for any further legal instructions that may be necessary, as far as future tribunal proceedings are concerned.
As such, A4ES clients do not need to look for new solicitors themselves and, in fact, they should not do so as any new solicitor will charge for their services.
In other words there is no need for A4ES clients to do anything at this stage, other than to sight tight because A4ES will be in touch as soon as there are any developments to report.
So, please spread the word and let other A4ES clients know the score, especially those without access to the blog site via the internet.
