Glasgow's 'Council Family'
Glasgow City Council is attacking union members for "putting the vulnerable at risk" after a GMB ballot resulted in an astonishing 98.1% vote in favour of industrial action.
Now the reality is that the unions are not dragging their members out on strike - the unions are simply responding to the mood of their lowest paid members who have been treated as 'second class citizens' for many years.
A big part of the problem is that the same senior management who got Glasgow into this appalling mess have been charged with clearing things up without admitting that they were wrong or apologising for their actions.
I have to say I do find it amazing that one minute Glasgow's chief executive, Annemarie O'Donnell, is describing the workforce as her 'Council Family' and yet the next a council spokesperson is let loose to criticise union members as irresponsible.
Read the full article via the link below to The Herald.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16859804.unions-condemned-for-putting-vulnerable-at-risk-over-glasgow-equal-pay-strike/
Unions condemned for "putting vulnerable at risk" over Glasgow equal pay strike
By Martin Williams @MWilliamsHT - The Herald
Unions condemned for "putting vulnerable at risk" over Glasgow equal pay strike
UNION leaders have been condemned for "putting vulnerable people risk" as thousands of Glasgow women prepare for a strike in an equal pay dispute with the city council.
A ballot by GMB Scotland of members including care workers, school cleaners and caterers employed by council service provider Corida returned an "overwhelming" 98 per cent support for strike action.
Home care and schools would be affected by any strike. Dates are still to be confirmed.
The union canvassed the views of women delivering home care, school cleaning and catering services across Glasgow.
GMB Scotland represents about 2,000 of an estimated 10,000 women who have been pursuing equal pay claims against for more than ten years.
Unison, which represents about 3,000 workers with claims, is still in the process of a strike ballot which closes next week.
But the city council say they were preparing to reach a negotiated settlement and condemned the strike threat.
A city council spokesman said: “The union has asked its members to back strike action on the basis of a schedule of negotiations it not only agreed but signed up to on their behalf.
“The council has committed to make an offer in December, which it will do, and we are committed to discuss the component parts of the offer prior to that.
“The union also knows full well that strike action cannot possibly make this process move any faster. Putting vulnerable people at risk by calling a strike which cannot change the timescale claimants agreed to cannot be justified.”
But GMB Scotland organiser Rhea Wolfson said: “This is a significant moment, not just in the long history of Glasgow’s equal pay scandal but in the fight back against institutionalised discrimination and sexism at work.
"Thousands of women who have been robbed by their employer for years have sent a loud and clear message to this council and to the country: 'enough is enough – it’s time to deliver what we are owed'."
The union had previously claimed that the council has cost taxpayers £50,000 an hour by failing to settle the dispute.
They believe the bill for 'discriminating' against the women over more than a decade could top £500 million, a claim the council said was not accurate.
Unions condemned for "putting vulnerable at risk" over Glasgow equal pay strike
UNION leaders have been condemned for "putting vulnerable people risk" as thousands of Glasgow women prepare for a strike in an equal pay dispute with the city council.
A ballot by GMB Scotland of members including care workers, school cleaners and caterers employed by council service provider Corida returned an "overwhelming" 98 per cent support for strike action.
Home care and schools would be affected by any strike. Dates are still to be confirmed.
The union canvassed the views of women delivering home care, school cleaning and catering services across Glasgow.
GMB Scotland represents about 2,000 of an estimated 10,000 women who have been pursuing equal pay claims against for more than ten years.
Unison, which represents about 3,000 workers with claims, is still in the process of a strike ballot which closes next week.
But the city council say they were preparing to reach a negotiated settlement and condemned the strike threat.
A city council spokesman said: “The union has asked its members to back strike action on the basis of a schedule of negotiations it not only agreed but signed up to on their behalf.
“The council has committed to make an offer in December, which it will do, and we are committed to discuss the component parts of the offer prior to that.
“The union also knows full well that strike action cannot possibly make this process move any faster. Putting vulnerable people at risk by calling a strike which cannot change the timescale claimants agreed to cannot be justified.”
But GMB Scotland organiser Rhea Wolfson said: “This is a significant moment, not just in the long history of Glasgow’s equal pay scandal but in the fight back against institutionalised discrimination and sexism at work.
"Thousands of women who have been robbed by their employer for years have sent a loud and clear message to this council and to the country: 'enough is enough – it’s time to deliver what we are owed'."
The union had previously claimed that the council has cost taxpayers £50,000 an hour by failing to settle the dispute.
They believe the bill for 'discriminating' against the women over more than a decade could top £500 million, a claim the council said was not accurate.
Glasgow's Second Class Citizens (13/09/18)
Here's an article from the Evening Times about the long service awards presented to 76 employees of Cordia which are all very well deserved, if you ask me, and it's great to see people being given recognition after so many years of public service.
But it's good to remember as well that Cordia was set up in 2007 to help Glasgow City Council try and wriggle out of its obligations over equal pay and this arm's length company went on to treat its workforce as second class citizens for many years.
So while it's a good thing that Cordia is being returned back 'in-house' I think it's also very important that the City Council and its officials are not allowed to re-write and gloss over Cordia's history.
Cordia workers praised for 2,000 years of service to Glasgow
By Catriona Stewart @LadyCatHT - Evening Times
Annmarie Higgins is one of 76 employees recognised for their long service
TOGETHER they have given almost 2000 years of service to Glasgow.
And now, in what will be the final celebration before the firm moves in-house to Glasgow City Council, Cordia workers have been honoured.
At the 11th annual Long Service Awards, 76 employees received recognition for 25 years service.
Robert Anderson, Head of Human Resources at Glasgow City Council, said: “The role which every employee undertakes on a daily basis is absolutely essential for Glasgow’s citizens, whether it’s a child being able to cross the road safely to an elderly resident getting round the clock home-care support.
“On behalf of everyone at Cordia I’d like to congratulate each one of our long-service recipients and it’s a privilege to commend them for their contribution to Glasgow.”
Each of the 76 recipients is part of Cordia’s operation throughout Glasgow, undertaking roles which include catering, home care, cleaning, school crossing and social work.
Since the inaugural ceremony in 2007, a total of 1250 Cordia employees have been eligible for the award, tallying an impressive 31,250 years of service.
Attendees were awarded with a medal to mark their dedication, earning an additional day’s leave and enjoying a three-course meal prepared by co-workers from Encore Hospitality Services, the contract catering-arm of Cordia.
Cordia staff carry out 95,000 home care visits per week to around 6200 elderly service users and serve 32,000 school meals per day across 139 primary schools, 29 secondary schools and 26 assisted learning schools.
Its janitors operate services in 575 premises and its cafes and restaurants pour 1 million cappuccinos per year
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “Congratulations to all our long service award winners - your efforts have helped thousands of Glasgow citizens over the many years of loyalty to the council.
"I hope you enjoy your celebrations and have many more years in which to serve our city.”
I've been banging on forever about Cordia employees being treated as 'second class citizens' while Glasgow's chief executive (Annemarie O'Donnell) continues to insist that everyone is part of the wider 'Council Family'.
Now this 'Family' business is a load of old bollix, if you ask me, and so I've published a few posts from the blog site archive to explain why - including the following extract from an Equal Pay Update dated 30 April 2018.
"For example, the current chief executive (Annemarie O'Donnell) was directly involved in setting up Glasgow's ALEOs including Cordia which has treated the Cordia workforce as 'second class' citizens for years. Cordia is now being dismantled, but instead of apologising for this mess and its impact on staff, officials are singing their own praises and presenting the ALEO debacle as a great policy success."
Annmarie Higgins is one of 76 employees recognised for their long service
TOGETHER they have given almost 2000 years of service to Glasgow.
And now, in what will be the final celebration before the firm moves in-house to Glasgow City Council, Cordia workers have been honoured.
At the 11th annual Long Service Awards, 76 employees received recognition for 25 years service.
Robert Anderson, Head of Human Resources at Glasgow City Council, said: “The role which every employee undertakes on a daily basis is absolutely essential for Glasgow’s citizens, whether it’s a child being able to cross the road safely to an elderly resident getting round the clock home-care support.
“On behalf of everyone at Cordia I’d like to congratulate each one of our long-service recipients and it’s a privilege to commend them for their contribution to Glasgow.”
Each of the 76 recipients is part of Cordia’s operation throughout Glasgow, undertaking roles which include catering, home care, cleaning, school crossing and social work.
Since the inaugural ceremony in 2007, a total of 1250 Cordia employees have been eligible for the award, tallying an impressive 31,250 years of service.
Attendees were awarded with a medal to mark their dedication, earning an additional day’s leave and enjoying a three-course meal prepared by co-workers from Encore Hospitality Services, the contract catering-arm of Cordia.
Cordia staff carry out 95,000 home care visits per week to around 6200 elderly service users and serve 32,000 school meals per day across 139 primary schools, 29 secondary schools and 26 assisted learning schools.
Its janitors operate services in 575 premises and its cafes and restaurants pour 1 million cappuccinos per year
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “Congratulations to all our long service award winners - your efforts have helped thousands of Glasgow citizens over the many years of loyalty to the council.
"I hope you enjoy your celebrations and have many more years in which to serve our city.”
Glasgow's - Second Class Citizens (04/06/18)
I've been banging on forever about Cordia employees being treated as 'second class citizens' while Glasgow's chief executive (Annemarie O'Donnell) continues to insist that everyone is part of the wider 'Council Family'.
Now this 'Family' business is a load of old bollix, if you ask me, and so I've published a few posts from the blog site archive to explain why - including the following extract from an Equal Pay Update dated 30 April 2018.
"For example, the current chief executive (Annemarie O'Donnell) was directly involved in setting up Glasgow's ALEOs including Cordia which has treated the Cordia workforce as 'second class' citizens for years. Cordia is now being dismantled, but instead of apologising for this mess and its impact on staff, officials are singing their own praises and presenting the ALEO debacle as a great policy success."
Stefan Cross has just published a Facebook post (below) which highlights a whole range of areas where Cordia employees have been treated less favourably than their colleagues in other parts of the council - which to me makes a mockery of the phrase 'Council Family'.
Because what kind of family, in this day and age, allows some of its members to be picked upon and forced to accept poorer conditions than everyone else?
If you already have an equal pay claim registered with A4ES, you don't have to do anything because A4ES has taken this issue up on your behalf.
If you don't have an equal pay claim registered - GET A MOVE ON, WHAT'S ARE YOU WAITING FOR!
The same is true for GMB and Unison who will be contacting their members directly.
Because what kind of family, in this day and age, allows some of its members to be picked upon and forced to accept poorer conditions than everyone else?
If you already have an equal pay claim registered with A4ES, you don't have to do anything because A4ES has taken this issue up on your behalf.
If you don't have an equal pay claim registered - GET A MOVE ON, WHAT'S ARE YOU WAITING FOR!
The same is true for GMB and Unison who will be contacting their members directly.
