North Lanarkshire Update

I've had lots of angry emails from readers in North Lanarkshire, not just people from groups who fear they've been excluded from the Council's late-running job evaluation (JE) review, but also from Home Carers who are anxious that the whole exercise is being manipulated behind the scenes - once again.

Now the big problem if you ask me, is the lack of communication from the Council and the trade unions which is very odd because the whole point about a JE scheme is that it's supposed to operate in an open and transparent manner.

So that the people affected by the outcome understand what's going on and have an opportunity to play a part in the process, as opposed to just being told of the results once all the important decisions have been made.

Especially as this is exactly what happened last time round (in 2006/07) when the Council introduced a JE scheme that was not fit for purpose and fell apart under critical examination by Daphne Romney QC, the leading barrister who acted for the A4ES clients at the long-running Employment Tribunal hearing.

I have to say I'm surprised at the attitude of the trade unions whom I thought would be much more interested in reporting back to and involving their members, but who knows what kind of battles are raging behind the scenes.

If the Council and the trade unions won't organise a few meetings to discuss exactly what's going on, maybe those affected should take things into their own hands - by starting to rock the boat, refusing to be fobbed off and getting themselves organised.