North Lanarkshire Update
HBJ Gateley are the lawyers representing A4ES clients in the ongoing dispute with North Lanarkshire Council over pensions and equal pay - and they've done a great job if you ask me, in setting out the employees' case in a formal appeal to Scottish Ministers which is now underway.
Here's an extract of the appeal letter which explains the scale of the financial loss being suffered by former NLC employees (mainly women) who are not being allowed by the Council to retire on the same basis as their male colleagues doing traditional jobs, such as refuse workers and gardeners.
"21 The following example illustrates the scale of the loss to the Appellants:
"Mrs A has been in service for 20 years and has made a contribution to her pension for the full period of her employment. Prior to the settlement offer Mrs A received £3,838 pension per year with a non-taxable lump sum payment of £11,512. After taking into account the additional earnings that Mrs A received in the settlement and contributing £960 in additional contributions, Mrs A would receive an increased pension of £5,375.00 per year with a non-taxable lump sum payment of £16,125. Mrs A would therefore have a gain of £1,537 extra in her pension per year and an additional £4,613 as a lump sum. Over her lifetime Mrs A would stand to gain an additional £43,800 from her increased pension entitlement."
I can't even begin to understand how Labour-run North Lanarkshire can claim to be an equal opportunities employer when the Council is arguing that a retiring woman worker can be treated so much less favourably than a comparable male employee.
In fact, it's a complete disgrace if you ask me and I only hope that Scottish Ministers have the sense to uphold the appeal from A4ES clients.
I'll be writing shortly to all MSPs and MPs in North Lanarkshire with a copy of the appeal letter and will be urging them to support their local constituents by making representations to the Scottish Government.
"Mrs A has been in service for 20 years and has made a contribution to her pension for the full period of her employment. Prior to the settlement offer Mrs A received £3,838 pension per year with a non-taxable lump sum payment of £11,512. After taking into account the additional earnings that Mrs A received in the settlement and contributing £960 in additional contributions, Mrs A would receive an increased pension of £5,375.00 per year with a non-taxable lump sum payment of £16,125. Mrs A would therefore have a gain of £1,537 extra in her pension per year and an additional £4,613 as a lump sum. Over her lifetime Mrs A would stand to gain an additional £43,800 from her increased pension entitlement."
I can't even begin to understand how Labour-run North Lanarkshire can claim to be an equal opportunities employer when the Council is arguing that a retiring woman worker can be treated so much less favourably than a comparable male employee.
In fact, it's a complete disgrace if you ask me and I only hope that Scottish Ministers have the sense to uphold the appeal from A4ES clients.
I'll be writing shortly to all MSPs and MPs in North Lanarkshire with a copy of the appeal letter and will be urging them to support their local constituents by making representations to the Scottish Government.
