Glasgow's Second Class Citizens

I wrote to all 85 Glasgow councillors yesterday, as well as contacting the city's 15 constituency MSPs and MPs (14 SNP and 1 Labour).

Here's what I had o say to local councillors and instead of responding with the familiar line of "I fully support the principle of equal pay" the challenge facing the politicians is:

• how they are going to introduce new non-discriminatory pay arrangements
• how are they going to compensate the workforce for 12 years (and counting) of the 'unfit for purpose' WPBR.

Dear Councillor

Glasgow's Second Class Citizens

Here is the latest post to my blog site which highlights the fact that thousands Cordia staff are being treated less favourably than other members of the Glasgow 'Council Family'.

I do hope that Glasgow's councillors will make their views known about the discrimination and hypocrisy which underpins the City Council's pay arrangements.

Kind regards

Mark Irvine

The reality is that Glasgow City Council does not have hundreds of millions of pounds lying idle in a bank account, so the Council is going to have to ask the Scottish Government for additional or exceptional borrowing powers to fund an equal pay settlement.

Which is why MSPs and MPs have an important role to play including the MSP for Glasgow Southside, Nicola Sturgeon.

Yet the ongoing settlement talks with the Council have still to address this fundamental issue which is one of the reasons things are progressing so slowly.

   

Song for Glasgow - 'Are We Family?' (14/06/18)

I have learned some quite incredible news about Glasgow City Council's pay arrangements the other day.

During the white-out weather conditions at the end of February and into early March 'non-Cordia staff' who were required to work received a special Emergency Weather payment of triple time - whereas their Cordia colleagues received only their normal rate of pay.

Now the hypocrisy involved in this bizarre treatment is quite breathtaking because while council leaders like to refer to the 'Council Family', the reality is rather different.

In effect, one part of the council workforce is being treated like a 'black sheep' while another is being treated as a 'prodigal son'.

So how can anyone have the brass neck to refer to the Glasgow 'Council Family when this is going on? 

I wonder if Glasgow's 85 local councillors will speak up about this latest outrage and assert their authority over senior officials who have got the council into another fine mess?

I hope so and they could do with some some support from Glasgow's MSPs and MPs who are quick to speak their minds on all kinds of issues, but have been very quiet over the fight for equal pay.

In the meantime A4ES, GMB and Unison are raising separate claims at the Employment Tribunals on behalf of thousands of staff who have lost out to the tune of hundreds of pounds, if they worked all three days.

Because senior council officials have refused to do the right thing and agree that everyone who worked under those atrocious conditions should be treated equally - instead of Cordia staff being treated, yet again, as 'second class citizens'.

  

Song for Glasgow (04/06/18)

Here's the latest entry to my Song for Glasgow competition - the aptly titled 'Equal Rights' by Peter Tosh.

If you ask me, Peter hits the nail on the head with he following words:

I don't want no peace
I need equal rights and justice

Because I imagine that's the way Glasgow's equal pay claimants feel after having to fight for their rights for the past 12 years - in the teeth of fierce opposition from the Council's senior officials.

  

We're Not Gonna Take It! (02/06/18)

My 'Song for Glasgow' competition has got off to a good start with this rousing entry from Angela - 'We're Not Gonna Take It' by Twisted Sister.

If you ask me, the words seem very apt and might just become an inspiring slogan in the fight for equal pay with Glasgow City Council. 

   

A Song for Glasgow (01/06/18)

I thought I'd lighten the mood a little with a new competition - A Song For Glasgow!

Now this is really about the fight for equal pay with Glasgow City Council and if you ask me, this has a way to run yet.

I have no doubt there will be more 'rollercoaster' days ahead, so let me start things off with my own entry, 'Promises' by Lyle Lovett - the opening lines of which are:

Promises given
And promises broken 

I really hope these lines don't end up as a metaphor for Glasgow City Council, but the song featured in the movie 'Dead Man Walking' and after a great campaign by the three claimant organisations (A4ES, GMB and Unison) I think we can safely say that this is now the fate of the Council's much 'unloved' and 'unfit for purpose' WPBR.

Send your entries to me by email - markirvine@compuserve.com - in complete confidence, of course.

   

Promises

A song by Lyle Lovett


Promises given
And promises broken
Words stain my lips
Just like blood on my hands

And words are like poison
That sinks down inside you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

I offer no reason
I ask for no pity
I make no excuse
For the way that I am

And words are like poison
That sinks down inside you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

I God is my witness
Then God is my savior
But if you are my judge
Then I'm already damned

And words are like poison
That sinks down inside you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

And would if my fingers
To cut off and give you
Could gain my redemption
I'd cut off my hands

But words are like poison
That bends you and blinds you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

So this is my story
And I hope that it finds you
For your sweet attention
I cannot demand

And words are like poison
That lives down inside you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

Songwriters: Lyle Lovett