Actions Speak Louder
A number of readers have shared this email below from Councillor Ken Andrew dated 6th September 2017.
Now I don't know Councillor Andrew, but I assume he must be a spokesperson for Glasgow City Council on equal pay.
If so, we have a problem because while Ken says all the right things about Glasgow's commitment to resolving all outstanding equal pay claims the truth is that absolutely nothing has happened over the past six weeks.
Never mind 'how discussions are progressing' (final paragraph) not a single meeting has taken place and we are now into the six month of the new SNP-led City Government.
I welcomed the statement by the First Minister last week in which she said an SNP-led Glasgow would fix the problem and introduce new pay arrangements based upon the principle of equal pay for work of equal value.
And I've previously welcomed the markedly different language and approach of the new council leader, Susan Aitken, but at the end of the day 'actions' speak much louder than words.
Yet up until now it's been all talk and no action on the part of Glasgow City Council:
- No meetings have taken place since 6th September 2017
- A settlement process has not even been discussed never mind put in place
- Glasgow has asked for 'leave to appeal' the damning Court of Session judgment which concluded that the City Council's WPBR pay arrangements are 'unfit for pupose'
- City Council officials have still not provided the pay information to explain how the higher earnings of all male jobs were 'looked after' under the WPBR pay scheme
In other words, the current situation is completely farcical and while I understand the new leadership of the council is on a steep learning curve there is no excuse for this lack of urgency and all too evident lack of progress.
So if things don't take a real turn for the better soon, I suspect people's frustration is going to start boiling over.
Subject: RE: Equal Pay - 6th September 2017
Dear XXXXXXXX
Thank you for your correspondence enquiring as to the current situation regarding back payment of equal pay and you’re indeed one of my constituents.
Glasgow’s new City Government remains absolutely committed to resolving all outstanding equal pay claims. It was a key manifesto commitment that we would work with trade unions and others representing all those low-paid women who were victims of discriminatory pay policies with the aim of resolving and settling all claims within this Council term.
As you may be aware, within the first weeks of the new administration, the Leader instructed the Council to halt its legal challenges to rulings on pay protection and to open discussions with staff and their representatives on a resolution.
This remains a complex issue and involves several thousand workers, all of whose cases will be in some way or another different. However we all agree the people who work for Glasgow City Council are its most vital asset and that we rely on their commitment and experience now more than ever. And we also agree that settlement of outstanding equal pay claims is long overdue.
Actions are now ongoing to resolve this and be assured I will do all in my capabilities to have this process completed in a timely manner. I hope that in the near future the Council, your union or your legal representatives will be in a position to update you on how these discussions are progressing.
Regards
Ken
Councillor Ken Andrew
