Glasgow - Equal Pay Update
I think it's fair to say that equal pay claimants in Glasgow are completely outraged at the insulting comments of John Mason, the SNP MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, who suggested that they should pay for their own employment rights to be upheld.
Angry responses from readers are still flooding in and here is a further selection from people who don't expect to be patronised or talked down to by Glasgow politicians.
I have spoken to Stefan Cross about organising an event in the New Year to which all Glasgow MSPs and MPs will be invited for a discussion about equal pay with Action 4 Equality Scotland and a cross section of A4ES claimants.
If you would like to take part in this meeting, drop me a note so that I can arrange to strike a good balance across the A4ES client groups: carers, cooks, catering staff, cleaners, clerical workers, classroom assistants and so on.
I suspect a Friday is the most likely day to hold such an event because there is no formal business on that day at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh or the House of Commons in London.
Having just read the email you published from John Mason MSP l am fuming is he having a laugh with his suggestions,why should we be the ones to take less money or come up with an idea on were the money should be found. Nobody wants job losses is he saying this to guilt trip us if there must be job losses go for all the bigwigs with the big money who have been getting correct wages these past ten years For years we have been robbed of money due to us by a Council that in my view could not run a menage.
H
Just home from my 7 days on to see this. Its demoralising, considering they get 6% pay INCREASE. Come do a shift with us, then you,ll see what honest hard work looks like
Just home from my 7 days on to see this. Its demoralising, considering they get 6% pay INCREASE. Come do a shift with us, then you,ll see what honest hard work looks like
P
J
Get a meeting with workers from carers,cleaners, catering staff. Invite MPs and MSPs see how they would like to live on our wage and do our work for a couple of hours
P
😡😡😡😡 #GCCPAYYOURDEBTTO THEWOMAN#
A
M
Glasgow - Readers' Comments (18/12/17)
John Mason MSP has managed to stir up a real hornets' nest with his insulting comments that equal pay claimants in Glasgow City Council should pay for their own employment rights to be upheld.
Here's a sample of what readers in Glasgow had to say:
That's da same excuse they used last time. Oh if we pay everyone cuts will mean job losses. I'm not falling 4 it this time
E
Bloody idiot
F
Any excuse to get out of it let him try live on the salary we get.
H
Terrible response
Bloody idiot
F
Any excuse to get out of it let him try live on the salary we get.
H
Terrible response
D
Disgraceful. Trying to hold people to ransom
M
How dare he this has been on going since 1999 and if any cuts get rid of all messages and MSP expenses they can well afford with an 11% pay rise😡😡😡😡😡 meant MP
This needs to be shared how world wide I'm fuming at his attitude😡
L
Omg ur feckin joking me!!!!😡😡😡😡😡
G
How do I share this let's let the whole of glasgow see what we have to put up with😡
L
Shocking I try share liz to you xx
J
Cut all the top cats bonuses & pay rises & get us paid what we'r owed😡 Was waitin in the job losses card coming out total joke😡
D
The man's an arse tell him and his cronies to take a pay cut and stop claiming expenses and give us what is due was he getting equal pay 16 years ago
J
James dorning sent me a letter way same old pish but positive hoping it gets and believing it to get sorted as soon as possible I'm mailing him again about attitude of his fellow BAWBAG😡😡😡😡
L
Where does the money come from for his 11% pay rise, we're asking for the money were entitled to and work bloody hard for, the council is elected to manage these things, there are now custodians of Glasgow council and it is therefore their responsibilities to look after the everyday running of the council, they would have known about this matter long before they got into power so to cry "it not our fault " does not wash with us, if their not competent enough to do the job then let someone who is.😡😡😡
S
How dare John mason say that what a feckin attitude we are all still out doing our jobs while they wait to pay us what they owe us they should give up there jobs we are frontline staff we deal with Our Wee clients needs and families John mason should come put and do a shift then he will see what we deal with tell him to take a pay cut😡😡😡😡😡
H
The reason it’s £500 million was because the length of time it’s taking them to resolve it. Now if £500 million is the true figure and they are also having to pay 8% on top that works out £40 million a year extra. Now eventually it will be the public that has to pay this.
As the SNP and previously labour never done the right thing by resolving it earlier, there fore costing a lot more than it had to.
So why should workers pay for GCC mistake by not resolving it earlier.
Now I find this incredible that they keep letting it drag on at the cost of £800,000 a week (if the £500 million is true) that the councils did not get our representatives round the table a lot sooner than they have.
I suggest to John to have a good long think to himself about that before asking where he thinks it should come from.
A
And this is a Mans attitude to women. Sickening😡😡
I
So they cut jobs and services to pay us out and most of us be out a job the vulnerable will suffer and we will be to blame absolutely shocking to ask these questions but I bet that's what they have planned so fecking angry at this x
J
This should hit the papers !!!!
L
This will be dragged on and on till they get booted out and labour re-elected for labour to then blame the SNP
S
Shame him and his comments
😠😠😠x
J
Ladies save this by hitting the 3 black dots at the top right then go to saved in your profile and it lets you share that way. Good luck
👍👍
💪🏼
I
Fuck it emailing Nicola sturgeon and Susan aitkin he has to answer to this moral is low he's just buried it b!!!!!!!d
L
Why is he asking workers where should this money come from, that's part his job not ours, wanting us to do his job and our own, typical
M
What a complete selfish moron ! He’s only worried some of his freebies will be cut! If there planning on cutting jobs let them start at the top better still put them in our job with our pay see then what they have to say about equal pay for the job we do😡
L
These parasites ought to start in-house with cuts mafia in suits corrupt to fck
C
Wonder if his comments were made on an official capacity or a personal one
S
Shocking even asking us this after keeping us hanging on all these years tell them to take a cut in there wages and stop spending all our money on shit x
F
Emails sent see what they think😡😡😡😡😡😡
L
I've shared it on my page
S
SHOCKING SHOCKING
😢😢😢
S
Shocking
L
Wit a wee fkn dick it's not up to us to find the money they knew this was coming so they should have money in reserve they have it when there are disasters every were else so they should have it for us
S
Where to get the money from?????!!!!!
They could use the money they intend to use on making glasgow a green house they money propose to spend on trees is rediculous
They need happy people in glasgow and pay off their debts before redecorating!!
L
The rumour was they have to sell the secc that they have 95 percent shares in and we all know how much income they recive from that with the cheapest tickets for shows being 75 pounds so instead of dragging there butts they should just pay us what the owe us
H
Other point Mr John mason where did the money go that should have been paid to the workers years ago what where the GCC doing with it so don't come away with people will lose there jobs we all know who should be losing there's and it's not the workers who were robbed so Mr mason think before you write and do the wright thing for the workers who were Robbed
J
Emotional blackmail from the asshole. Not up to us where money comes from.Take it from same resources that his and other MSPs overinflated salaries and pay rises come from. No problem finding it then did u. This is what we are up against god help us😡
👊
V
They put tax up so where is that all going to? Line more assholes up the council pockets x pockets
J
Anybody looked this guy up on Wikipedia? Interestingly he was a city councillor between 1998 and 2008. So knows about this and possibly even part of the problem?
B
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mason_(Scottish_politician)
John Mason (Scottish politician) - Wikipedia
John Fingland Mason (born 15 May 1957) is a…
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Just sent this shambles of a response to the sun.daily record and evening times let's see if any bite.Wont hold my breath though.
M
My friend messaged saying. The could sell 2 pictures from the chambers.
J
Susan Aitken said its there problem and they will find the money even if they have to borrow it or sell some things off no way should wee have to lose out again if they hadn't tried to rip us off in the first place they wouldn't be in this mess x
F
Heres a suggestion Mr Mason go to the bank like the working class have to do and borrow to pay back x
J
And this horrible little man who disrespect women . Has a cheek to ask workers were to get the money from. He can get some back handers as the usually do with there expenses.
I
What a PRICK,I'm sorry but I think we need to strike now,no more waiting,everybody has waited long enough,need to hit them where it hurts and hit them hard,will he come out and wipe arse when GCC is brought to its knees, don't think so
M
Mr Mason
Unless you can come back with a more logical answer please don’t reply, and yes !! we should cut wages and jobs , firstly yours and then all your party members then go through your treasure troves of Glasgow , sell your buildings that rake in millions .. the art collections that gather dust . Please do not insult us by your heartbreaking emotional tripe
M
What an idiot GCC has a duty of care to the sick and elderly regardless of what this nincompoop is saying they must provide support so one way or another it is still cheaper for people to be supported in there own home by us lovely people so I'm afraid they will have to find the money some other way I suggest someone eats humble pie and forgets her about the tree lined streets it's Glasgow for god sake not LA
E
Now this 'cuts to jobs and services' malarkey is exactly what Glasgow City Council said back in 2005 when it duped low paid council workers, predominantly women of course, into accepting poor offers of settlement to their 1st Wave equal pay claims which were 'capped' at just £9,000.
Disgraceful. Trying to hold people to ransom
M
How dare he this has been on going since 1999 and if any cuts get rid of all messages and MSP expenses they can well afford with an 11% pay rise
😡😡😡😡😡 meant MPThis needs to be shared how world wide I'm fuming at his attitude
😡L
Omg ur feckin joking me!!!!
😡😡😡😡😡G
How do I share this let's let the whole of glasgow see what we have to put up with
😡L
Shocking I try share liz to you xx
J
Cut all the top cats bonuses & pay rises & get us paid what we'r owed
😡 Was waitin in the job losses card coming out total joke😡D
The man's an arse tell him and his cronies to take a pay cut and stop claiming expenses and give us what is due was he getting equal pay 16 years ago
J
James dorning sent me a letter way same old pish but positive hoping it gets and believing it to get sorted as soon as possible I'm mailing him again about attitude of his fellow BAWBAG
😡😡😡😡L
Where does the money come from for his 11% pay rise, we're asking for the money were entitled to and work bloody hard for, the council is elected to manage these things, there are now custodians of Glasgow council and it is therefore their responsibilities to look after the everyday running of the council, they would have known about this matter long before they got into power so to cry "it not our fault " does not wash with us, if their not competent enough to do the job then let someone who is.
😡😡😡S
How dare John mason say that what a feckin attitude we are all still out doing our jobs while they wait to pay us what they owe us they should give up there jobs we are frontline staff we deal with Our Wee clients needs and families John mason should come put and do a shift then he will see what we deal with tell him to take a pay cut
😡😡😡😡😡H
The reason it’s £500 million was because the length of time it’s taking them to resolve it. Now if £500 million is the true figure and they are also having to pay 8% on top that works out £40 million a year extra. Now eventually it will be the public that has to pay this.
As the SNP and previously labour never done the right thing by resolving it earlier, there fore costing a lot more than it had to.
So why should workers pay for GCC mistake by not resolving it earlier.
Now I find this incredible that they keep letting it drag on at the cost of £800,000 a week (if the £500 million is true) that the councils did not get our representatives round the table a lot sooner than they have.
I suggest to John to have a good long think to himself about that before asking where he thinks it should come from.
A
And this is a Mans attitude to women. Sickening
😡😡I
So they cut jobs and services to pay us out and most of us be out a job the vulnerable will suffer and we will be to blame absolutely shocking to ask these questions but I bet that's what they have planned so fecking angry at this x
J
This should hit the papers !!!!
L
This will be dragged on and on till they get booted out and labour re-elected for labour to then blame the SNP
S
Shame him and his comments
😠😠😠xJ
Ladies save this by hitting the 3 black dots at the top right then go to saved in your profile and it lets you share that way. Good luck
👍👍💪🏼I
Fuck it emailing Nicola sturgeon and Susan aitkin he has to answer to this moral is low he's just buried it b!!!!!!!d
L
Why is he asking workers where should this money come from, that's part his job not ours, wanting us to do his job and our own, typical
M
What a complete selfish moron ! He’s only worried some of his freebies will be cut! If there planning on cutting jobs let them start at the top better still put them in our job with our pay see then what they have to say about equal pay for the job we do
😡L
These parasites ought to start in-house with cuts mafia in suits corrupt to fck
C
Wonder if his comments were made on an official capacity or a personal one
S
Shocking even asking us this after keeping us hanging on all these years tell them to take a cut in there wages and stop spending all our money on shit x
F
Emails sent see what they think
😡😡😡😡😡😡L
I've shared it on my page
S
SHOCKING SHOCKING
😢😢😢S
Shocking
L
Wit a wee fkn dick it's not up to us to find the money they knew this was coming so they should have money in reserve they have it when there are disasters every were else so they should have it for us
S
Where to get the money from?????!!!!!
They could use the money they intend to use on making glasgow a green house they money propose to spend on trees is rediculous
They need happy people in glasgow and pay off their debts before redecorating!!
L
The rumour was they have to sell the secc that they have 95 percent shares in and we all know how much income they recive from that with the cheapest tickets for shows being 75 pounds so instead of dragging there butts they should just pay us what the owe us
H
Other point Mr John mason where did the money go that should have been paid to the workers years ago what where the GCC doing with it so don't come away with people will lose there jobs we all know who should be losing there's and it's not the workers who were robbed so Mr mason think before you write and do the wright thing for the workers who were Robbed
J
Emotional blackmail from the asshole. Not up to us where money comes from.Take it from same resources that his and other MSPs overinflated salaries and pay rises come from. No problem finding it then did u. This is what we are up against god help us
😡👊V
They put tax up so where is that all going to? Line more assholes up the council pockets x pockets
J
Anybody looked this guy up on Wikipedia? Interestingly he was a city councillor between 1998 and 2008. So knows about this and possibly even part of the problem?
B
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mason_(Scottish_politician)
John Mason (Scottish politician) - Wikipedia
John Fingland Mason (born 15 May 1957) is a…
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Just sent this shambles of a response to the sun.daily record and evening times let's see if any bite.Wont hold my breath though.
M
My friend messaged saying. The could sell 2 pictures from the chambers.
J
Susan Aitken said its there problem and they will find the money even if they have to borrow it or sell some things off no way should wee have to lose out again if they hadn't tried to rip us off in the first place they wouldn't be in this mess x
F
Heres a suggestion Mr Mason go to the bank like the working class have to do and borrow to pay back x
J
And this horrible little man who disrespect women . Has a cheek to ask workers were to get the money from. He can get some back handers as the usually do with there expenses.
I
What a PRICK,I'm sorry but I think we need to strike now,no more waiting,everybody has waited long enough,need to hit them where it hurts and hit them hard,will he come out and wipe arse when GCC is brought to its knees, don't think so
M
Mr Mason
Unless you can come back with a more logical answer please don’t reply, and yes !! we should cut wages and jobs , firstly yours and then all your party members then go through your treasure troves of Glasgow , sell your buildings that rake in millions .. the art collections that gather dust . Please do not insult us by your heartbreaking emotional tripe
M
What an idiot GCC has a duty of care to the sick and elderly regardless of what this nincompoop is saying they must provide support so one way or another it is still cheaper for people to be supported in there own home by us lovely people so I'm afraid they will have to find the money some other way I suggest someone eats humble pie and forgets her about the tree lined streets it's Glasgow for god sake not LA
E
Now this 'cuts to jobs and services' malarkey is exactly what Glasgow City Council said back in 2005 when it duped low paid council workers, predominantly women of course, into accepting poor offers of settlement to their 1st Wave equal pay claims which were 'capped' at just £9,000.
But then the City Council added insult to injury by introducing a new WPBR pay scheme in 2007 which continued to favour traditional male jobs while discriminating against those jobs done mainly by women: carers, cooks, catering staff, cleaners, clerical workers, classroom assistants and so on.
'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me' - as the old saying goes!
So maybe John Mason has actually done us all a big favour by bringing this issue out into the open because if this mindset is shared by other Glasgow politicians, then it needs to be tackled head on.
So maybe John Mason has actually done us all a big favour by bringing this issue out into the open because if this mindset is shared by other Glasgow politicians, then it needs to be tackled head on.
Glasgow - Insulting and Ridiculous
I circulated a copy of yesterday's post about John Mason's comments on the fight for equal pay with Glasgow City Council - to all Glasgow MSPs, MPs and local councillors along with the following Twitter message:
"John Mason's suggestion that equal pay claimants in Glasgow should 'pay' for their own rights to be upheld is insulting, ridiculous and a complete non-starter"
I don't think I need to add anything further at this stage, but watch this space for more news because there's a lot going on at the moment.
Glasgow - Breaking News (17/12/17)
A kind reader has just shared this email from John Mason MSP which, if you ask me, is ill-judged, patronising and insulting because of the strange way John qualifies his 'support' for equal pay.
John's suggestion is that the Glasgow claimants who have been cheated and robbed of their rights to equal pay for years should come up with a solution themselves and consider accepting less than they are entitled to given the potential impact on jobs and services.
Thanks for your email.
Yes, I do agree with you that this dispute should be settled as soon as possible.
The problem is how much money it will cost and where that money will come from. Figures up to £500 million have been mentioned and Glasgow does not have that money. Labour should have made cuts to pay for the equal pay.
Do you think the SNP should cut jobs and services in order to pay the equal pay claim? Or should the workers who are entitled to the money take less so their colleagues can keep their jobs?
Happy to hear any ideas you have about where the money should come from.
Sincerely
John Mason
(MSP for Glasgow Shettleston)Now I didn't hear Nicola Sturgeon qualify her support back in October when she said at an SNP conference in Glasgow in October 2017:
"The injustice suffered by low paid women in this city will be put right.
"Equal pay for equal work, denied for too long, will be delivered by the SNP."
Nor have I heard SNP MPs at Westminster say that the pension rights of the 'WASPI' women should be restored so long as they come up with proposals for making cuts in other areas of public spending!
I must check on this point with Ian Blackford, the SNP leader in the House of Commons, and Mhairi Black, the SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire, who has been very vocal in support of the WASPI campaign, but I'll eat my hat is that is the stance being taken by the SNP in Westminster.
And while I agree with John that previous Labour-led administrations in Glasgow have a lot to answer for, if I remember correctly, John was a Glasgow councillor at the time the City Council approved its 'unfit for purpose' WPBR pay arrangements back in 2006/07.
So John trying to 'wash his hands' of the whole affair simply won't do although I'd be happy to sit down and discuss how the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government might help Glasgow City Council find a way out of the huge mess it finds itself in today.
But what do the claimants in Glasgow think of John's email?
Let me know and I'll see if we can find a way of bringing Glasgow's MSPs and MPs together for a constructive discussion with some of the claimants in the New Year.
Glasgow's 'Quiet Bunch' (15/12/17)
Glasgow's MSPs and MPs are proving to be more like 'The Quiet Bunch' than 'The Wild Bunch' when it comes to the fight for equal pay with Scotland's largest local council.
Now I've been keeping all Glasgow politicians - local councillors, MSPs and MPs - up to speed with what's been happening in recent weeks and months, yet there seems to be a strange reluctance to get directly involved.
I certainly expected the politicians to show more interest in what's happening in their own back yard and to speak up on important issues such as the prospect of the City Council trying to overturn a unanimous judgment from Scotland's highest civil court, the Court of Session.
Maybe they're all too busy doing their Christmas shopping, but whatever the reason I'm sure this issue is going to return with a real vengeance in the New Year.
