Message for Annemarie - The real meaning of 'Council Family'
Some of Glasgow's equal pay strikers have been leaving little gifts and 'Thank You' notes for the council workers who refused to cross their picket lines during last week's industrial action.
So, while the Council threatens these workers with the 'sack', Glasgow's equal pay claimants shower them with chocolates and kind words.
Respect, Glasgow! (24/10/18)
Here's what just one of Glasgow's equal pay claimants had to say about the solidarity shown by the council's refuse workers in the women's fight for equal pay with the City Council.
Guys we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts xx
The Herald reports that every refuse worker in Glasgow City Council walked out yesterday in support of their women colleagues who are fighting for equal pay.
The refuse workers refused to cross the strikers picket lines in a show of solidity and John O'Connor, GMB rep for the city's refuse workers, said:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17002039.glasgows-male-refuse-workers-walk-out-in-solidarity-with-equal-pay-women/
Glasgow's male refuse workers walk out in solidarity with equal pay women
A kind reader sent me the latest edition of 'Insider' the in-house journal of Glasgow City Council which contains the following message from the Council's chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell.
Now Annemarie has nothing to say about equal pay and chooses instead to focus on recent structural changes within the Council including the decision to wind-up Cordia as an ALEO - Arm's Length External Organisation.
If you ask me this is a lot of old guff and weasel words about the 'Glasgow Family' which completely avoids the reason Cordia was set up in the first place or Cordia's behaviour in treating its largely female workforce as second class citizens for years.
So to even things up and set the record straight I have included a couple of post from the blog site archive which tell the real story about Cordia and why it was really created - to help the Council wriggle out of its obligations over equal pay.
If I remember correctly, there are some Cordia 'all staff' meetings coming up in the next few weeks to discuss its return to direct council control .
I'll be interested to hear from people who go along - in complete confidence, of course.
F
I'm told that senior officials at Glasgow City Council are still threatening to discipline the workers involved and have demanded that the union/s repudiate the actions of their own members.
Fat chance that happening if you ask me, but what a stupid and bullying attitude on the part of the Council.
Respect, Glasgow! (24/10/18)
The Herald reports that every refuse worker in Glasgow City Council walked out yesterday in support of their women colleagues who are fighting for equal pay.
The refuse workers refused to cross the strikers picket lines in a show of solidity and John O'Connor, GMB rep for the city's refuse workers, said:
"We all know about the equal pay strikes today and tomorrow.
"As cleansing operatives we came into work this morning to go about our normal business and present ourselves for work, but we didn't want to cross a picket as we are in total support of the women.
"Management came into our canteen and read out an official statement from the council stating that if we didn't go to work there'd be disciplinary action taken against us. "They basically said if you don't cross picket lines and go to work you won't be getting paid. In support of the women the guys in cleaning came out to support them wholeheartedly in the fight for justice.
"I believe it is shameful the way they've acted towards the women and the cohesion and communication, going back to local management, just isn't there. It's embarrassing."
I understand that these workers were threatened with disciplinary action and potentially the 'sack' for taking such action, but they refused to be intimidated by council management and stood their ground.
"As cleansing operatives we came into work this morning to go about our normal business and present ourselves for work, but we didn't want to cross a picket as we are in total support of the women.
"Management came into our canteen and read out an official statement from the council stating that if we didn't go to work there'd be disciplinary action taken against us. "They basically said if you don't cross picket lines and go to work you won't be getting paid. In support of the women the guys in cleaning came out to support them wholeheartedly in the fight for justice.
"I believe it is shameful the way they've acted towards the women and the cohesion and communication, going back to local management, just isn't there. It's embarrassing."
I understand that these workers were threatened with disciplinary action and potentially the 'sack' for taking such action, but they refused to be intimidated by council management and stood their ground.
So the question is, "Who gave the instruction about taking disciplinary action - was this from senior bosses at the top of the Council or from the Council's political leadership?"
In any event, it takes real courage to stand up in these situations and I take off my hat to Glasgow's refuse workers for their show of support and solidarity.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17002039.glasgows-male-refuse-workers-walk-out-in-solidarity-with-equal-pay-women/
Glasgow's male refuse workers walk out in solidarity with equal pay women
By Catriona Stewart - The Herald
EVERY refuse worker in the city has walked out in solidarity with Glasgow's equal pay women.
Men attended work this morning at nine depots around Glasgow but refused to cross picket lines, downing tools and walking out.
The Evening Times had told yesterday how Glasgow City Council threatened refuse workers with disciplinary action should they protest.
Last night the council withdrew the threat and today a spokesman said there would be no disciplinary action taken against the men but they will be docked a day's pay..
He added: "We are disappointed that staff chose to take this course of action today and we would be asking the GMB to ask their members to return to work as usual tomorrow."
John O'Connor, GMB rep for the city's refuse workers, said: "We all know about the equal pay strikes today and tomorrow.
"As cleansing operatives we came into work this morning to go about our normal business and present ourselves for work, but we didn't want to cross a picket as we are in total support of the women.
"Management came into our canteen and read out an official statement from the council stating that if we didn't go to work there'd be disciplinary action taken against us. "They basically said if you don't cross picket lines and go to work you won't be getting paid. In support of the women the guys in cleaning came out to support them wholeheartedly in the fight for justice.
"I believe it is shameful the way they've acted towards the women and the cohesion and communication, going back to local management, just isn't there. It's embarrassing."
A council insider said it seemed unlikely that the mass action was not coordinated.
They said that if the men's action had been influenced by their union then that would be unlawful.
However, Rhea Wolfson, spokeswoman for the GMB, strongly refuted any suggestion that the union had asked refuse workers to walk out.
She said: "The cleansing workers feel great solidarity with their female colleagues.
"Refuse workers attended work this morning as usual and asked for alternative duties that meant they would not be crossing the picket line.
"This option was not taken up by the council and so the men decided to walk out and join picket lines.
"The refuse workers are a strong, strong trade union group and they know what it is like to need solidarity from people across the city."
Ms Wolfson said the solidarity shown by the men will be repeated tomorrow.
She said: "We have not yet been approached by Glasgow City Council about this but are more than happy to speak to them about the situation.
EVERY refuse worker in the city has walked out in solidarity with Glasgow's equal pay women.
Men attended work this morning at nine depots around Glasgow but refused to cross picket lines, downing tools and walking out.
The Evening Times had told yesterday how Glasgow City Council threatened refuse workers with disciplinary action should they protest.
Last night the council withdrew the threat and today a spokesman said there would be no disciplinary action taken against the men but they will be docked a day's pay..
He added: "We are disappointed that staff chose to take this course of action today and we would be asking the GMB to ask their members to return to work as usual tomorrow."
John O'Connor, GMB rep for the city's refuse workers, said: "We all know about the equal pay strikes today and tomorrow.
"As cleansing operatives we came into work this morning to go about our normal business and present ourselves for work, but we didn't want to cross a picket as we are in total support of the women.
"Management came into our canteen and read out an official statement from the council stating that if we didn't go to work there'd be disciplinary action taken against us. "They basically said if you don't cross picket lines and go to work you won't be getting paid. In support of the women the guys in cleaning came out to support them wholeheartedly in the fight for justice.
"I believe it is shameful the way they've acted towards the women and the cohesion and communication, going back to local management, just isn't there. It's embarrassing."
A council insider said it seemed unlikely that the mass action was not coordinated.
They said that if the men's action had been influenced by their union then that would be unlawful.
However, Rhea Wolfson, spokeswoman for the GMB, strongly refuted any suggestion that the union had asked refuse workers to walk out.
She said: "The cleansing workers feel great solidarity with their female colleagues.
"Refuse workers attended work this morning as usual and asked for alternative duties that meant they would not be crossing the picket line.
"This option was not taken up by the council and so the men decided to walk out and join picket lines.
"The refuse workers are a strong, strong trade union group and they know what it is like to need solidarity from people across the city."
Ms Wolfson said the solidarity shown by the men will be repeated tomorrow.
She said: "We have not yet been approached by Glasgow City Council about this but are more than happy to speak to them about the situation.
Glasgow 'Council Family' Bollix (28/05/18)
A kind reader sent me the latest edition of 'Insider' the in-house journal of Glasgow City Council which contains the following message from the Council's chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell.
Now Annemarie has nothing to say about equal pay and chooses instead to focus on recent structural changes within the Council including the decision to wind-up Cordia as an ALEO - Arm's Length External Organisation.
If you ask me this is a lot of old guff and weasel words about the 'Glasgow Family' which completely avoids the reason Cordia was set up in the first place or Cordia's behaviour in treating its largely female workforce as second class citizens for years.
So to even things up and set the record straight I have included a couple of post from the blog site archive which tell the real story about Cordia and why it was really created - to help the Council wriggle out of its obligations over equal pay.
If I remember correctly, there are some Cordia 'all staff' meetings coming up in the next few weeks to discuss its return to direct council control .
I'll be interested to hear from people who go along - in complete confidence, of course.
MESSAGE FROM ANNEMARIE O’DONNELL
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
Any organisation as big and diverse as the council family experiences a great deal of change.
These changes are often strategic and planned – but, occasionally, they are driven by outside events and test our ability to adapt and respond to new challenges.
However they come about, these changes are all part and parcel of the role we play in the daily life of the city.
Over recent months, we have seen a number of planned changes in how we organise ourselves in order to ensure we continue to deliver efficient and effective services for the city.
The shape of the Glasgow family has continued to evolve – our City Marketing Bureau is now embedded within Glasgow Life; City Building has become a joint venture with the Wheatley Group, and Corporate Services has been merged across Financial Services and my own team.
The scheduled end of the ACCESS joint venture has seen the creation of a new corporate landlord, within DRS, with ICT services being carried out by a new contractor, CGI – working with experienced staff seconded from the council.
We have created a new Community Empowerment and Equalities team, headed up by its own Director and working across the council family, Community Planning partners, governments, business, academia and the third sector.
And, within the last few weeks, members have agreed further changes; perhaps the most significant of which will mean the services currently delivered by our colleagues at Cordia – and many of those delivered by Community Safety Glasgow – being relocated.
You can read more about these changes on page three of this month’s edition of Insider, but it is important that everyone is clear that vital jobs that staff do won’t change.
The hard work that staff do to support their fellow Glaswegians and our neighbourhoods will continue and I want to thank them all for their dedication, commitment and focus right through this process.
I also want to make sure we all understand how these and other changes reflect and help deliver the council’s Strategic Plan and Glasgow’s Community Plan.
These changes are often strategic and planned – but, occasionally, they are driven by outside events and test our ability to adapt and respond to new challenges.
However they come about, these changes are all part and parcel of the role we play in the daily life of the city.
Over recent months, we have seen a number of planned changes in how we organise ourselves in order to ensure we continue to deliver efficient and effective services for the city.
The shape of the Glasgow family has continued to evolve – our City Marketing Bureau is now embedded within Glasgow Life; City Building has become a joint venture with the Wheatley Group, and Corporate Services has been merged across Financial Services and my own team.
The scheduled end of the ACCESS joint venture has seen the creation of a new corporate landlord, within DRS, with ICT services being carried out by a new contractor, CGI – working with experienced staff seconded from the council.
We have created a new Community Empowerment and Equalities team, headed up by its own Director and working across the council family, Community Planning partners, governments, business, academia and the third sector.
And, within the last few weeks, members have agreed further changes; perhaps the most significant of which will mean the services currently delivered by our colleagues at Cordia – and many of those delivered by Community Safety Glasgow – being relocated.
You can read more about these changes on page three of this month’s edition of Insider, but it is important that everyone is clear that vital jobs that staff do won’t change.
The hard work that staff do to support their fellow Glaswegians and our neighbourhoods will continue and I want to thank them all for their dedication, commitment and focus right through this process.
I also want to make sure we all understand how these and other changes reflect and help deliver the council’s Strategic Plan and Glasgow’s Community Plan.
Hopefully you know that the latter, developed by Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, sets out a vision for a world class city, with thriving and resilient communities where everyone can flourish and benefit from the city’s success.
Partners have now developed an action plan for the next two years, which starts to detail what will be required to meet that goal – with a particular focus on transport and childcare.
You can find out more by visiting Glasgow CPP at www.glasgowcpp. org.uk/communityplan
If you use social media, you can also follow the Glasgow Community Planning Partnership at @GlasgowCPP and www.facebook.com/GlasgowCPP/
As always, I’m happy to hear your ideas and suggestions. You can contact me by email.
Here's an astonishing email which has been sent to the 'Council Family' at Glasgow City Council by the council's chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell.
Now I'm not part of the 'Council Family' but if I were, I'd be absolutely furious at the way the council's top boss has quietly glossed over her own role in creating Glasgow's ALEOs back in 2007 - and the fact that one of the main purposes for these arm's length companies was to try and assist the City Council to wriggle out of its obligations over equal pay.
Here's a little reminder that the appalling decision to set up Glasgow's ALEOs (Arms Length External Organisations) was headed up by the City Council's current chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell - see article below from Holyrood Magazine.
Following a two year secondment as deputy director of social work services, she returned to corporate services in 2007, serving as assistant director and head of external governance as the council established its ALEOs.
Now since the real reason for setting up ALEOs in the first place was a shameful attempt to circumvent the Glasgow City Council's obligations over equal pay, surely it's time close these organisations down.
Yet again the Court of Session sent Glasgow City Council packing and if you ask me, the politicians and officials behind this crazy scheme owe the workforce an apology.
Here's an interesting article from 'Holyrood Magazine' which was published back in 2014 just as Annemarie O'Donnell's was appointed as the new and first woman chief executive of Glasgow City Council.
Regular readers will know that Carole Forrest succeeded Annemarie as executive director of corporate services (which deals with Freedom of Information requests) and that Glasgow now has a woman Lord Provost (Eva Bolander) and a woman council leader (Susan Aitken).
The political changes at the top of the City Council are relatively recent, of course, but isn't it remarkable that the battle over equal pay has been so fierce in Glasgow - even with women officials in the most senior positions.
New chief executive for Glasgow City Council
Written by Kate Shannon on 12 November 2014 in News
Annemarie O’Donnell has been appointed
Glasgow City Council has appointed a new chief executive to replace George Black, who retires next month.
Annemarie O’Donnell, who has been the council’s executive director of corporate services since 2011, was chosen for the role last week.
Black announced his retirement in August and will leave the council on 11 December.
Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The quality of candidates was exceptionally high but Annemarie brings a wealth of experience, passion and vision to the role and was the unanimous choice of the interview panel.
"There has never been a more exciting time to work in Glasgow, with the city in the spotlight like never before following the best ever Commonwealth Games and the signing of Scotland’s first city deal. I am in no doubt that Annemarie is the best possible choice to lead our dedicated and talented staff through the next chapter in our city’s long and proud history.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank George Black for his exceptional work on behalf of the city and wish him every happiness and success in the future.”
I believe we have the energy, the ideas and, crucially, the best people to meet those challenges
O’Donnell, 49, is a qualified solicitor and a member of the Law Society of Scotland. She has two adult children and her husband is a lawyer specialising in criminal law.
After joining Glasgow District Council from a legal practice in the east end of Glasgow in 1991, she worked as a solicitor and then senior solicitor in a team focusing on construction, housing and planning.
Following local government reorganisation in 1996, she was promoted to chief solicitor, leading the council’s work on commercial contracts, procurement, planning and environmental law.
In 2003, O’Donnell was appointed assistant head of legal and administrative services, a new post that saw her take responsibility for the running of elections for the first time – along with committee services, registrars, litigation, licensing and corporate law.
Following a two year secondment as deputy director of social work services, she returned to corporate services in 2007, serving as assistant director and head of external governance as the council established its ALEOs.
She said: “I am delighted and humbled to have been appointed. This is a really exciting time for Glasgow. There is no doubt the next few years will be challenging for everyone in local government. But I believe we have the energy, the ideas and, crucially, the best people to meet those challenges.”
Read Holyrood’s full interview with George Black here.
How's this for a nonsense story from the Evening Times?
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15989868.Aleos_come_up_short_on_cash_for_Glasgow_City_Council/
Aleos come up short on cash for Glasgow City Council
By Stewart Paterson - Evening Times
Cordia, the council’s catering and care service, is said to be £2m down on projections
GLASGOW City Council’s Aleos have a £2 million shortfall in the last three months, according to the latest report.
The monitoring report into the ten Arms Length External Organisations owned by the council shows they are coming up short of the budgeted for cash expectations.
The firms, that are intended to deliver a discount, meaning cash goes back to the council, are not making as much as anticipated.
The biggest deficits are showing for Cordia the council’s catering and care firm and Glasgow Life which runs museums, libraries and leisure centres.
Cordia is £2m down while Glasgow Life is £1.3m lower than projected.
The reports said Glasgow Life was struggling with income from its Glasgow Sport arm.
It stated: Actual income in Sport is lower than anticipated and continues to be extremely challenging.”
The Aleo is predicting a deficit of £1m for the year compared to a budget expectation is would break even.
The report added: “Glasgow Life are putting in place various interventions to manage this through underspends across the service.”
Cordia has a surplus of £31,000 against a budgeted for surplus of £2,059,000. The monitoring report found that the catering and technical care operations were doing better than forecast but the home care and facilities sections were below expectations.
It is £1m lower than the expected surplus of almost £3.5m.
The council’s budget expects income form the Aleos termed discounts totalling more than £14m.
The report stated: “ Forecast shortfalls in their surplus are reporter for Cordia, City Property and City Building which is likely to impact on the discount which is due to be returned to the council. City Property and City Building are mitigating this shortfall with the use of reserves and carry forwards.”
The council is due to set the budget in the next few weeks with further cuts expected to departments.
A spokesman for the City Council said A spokesman said: “Both organisations are on track to return a surplus to the council, however, the report details that, at quarter three, these are below the levels budgeted at the start of the financial year.
“These are known issues that are taken account of in the council’s overall financial position.”
Partners have now developed an action plan for the next two years, which starts to detail what will be required to meet that goal – with a particular focus on transport and childcare.
You can find out more by visiting Glasgow CPP at www.glasgowcpp. org.uk/communityplan
If you use social media, you can also follow the Glasgow Community Planning Partnership at @GlasgowCPP and www.facebook.com/GlasgowCPP/
As always, I’m happy to hear your ideas and suggestions. You can contact me by email.
Glasgow's Shame Over ALEOs
Here's an astonishing email which has been sent to the 'Council Family' at Glasgow City Council by the council's chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell.
Now I'm not part of the 'Council Family' but if I were, I'd be absolutely furious at the way the council's top boss has quietly glossed over her own role in creating Glasgow's ALEOs back in 2007 - and the fact that one of the main purposes for these arm's length companies was to try and assist the City Council to wriggle out of its obligations over equal pay.
Once the ALEOs were in place, senior and very highly paid officials argued that they were completely independent and separate employers from Glasgow City Council.
So, in their eyes of these senior officials, equal pay claimants could no longer compare their earnings with the much higher pay of Council employees outside of their own ALEO, Cordia being the prime example.
And if council officials had succeeded with this ploy, the perfectly valid equal pay claims of thousands of Home Care workers and other low paid Cordia staff would now be 'dead in the water'.
After all this time, Annemarie O'Donnell is having to eat her own words by dismantling these 'arm's length' companies which have proved very costly to the public purse and to Cordia staff who are employed on much less favourable conditions than the rest of the council workforce.
If you ask me, the City Council has made the right decision in making this policy U-turn, but the political leaders of the council should be telling the chief executive it's time to move on and find a new challenege elsewhere.
Because Annemarie O'Donnell has played a crucial role throughout this shameful ALEO episode, both in terms of establishing these arm's length bodies and in presiding over pay arrangements which treated Cordia's largely female workforce as second class citizens.
So, in their eyes of these senior officials, equal pay claimants could no longer compare their earnings with the much higher pay of Council employees outside of their own ALEO, Cordia being the prime example.
And if council officials had succeeded with this ploy, the perfectly valid equal pay claims of thousands of Home Care workers and other low paid Cordia staff would now be 'dead in the water'.
After all this time, Annemarie O'Donnell is having to eat her own words by dismantling these 'arm's length' companies which have proved very costly to the public purse and to Cordia staff who are employed on much less favourable conditions than the rest of the council workforce.
If you ask me, the City Council has made the right decision in making this policy U-turn, but the political leaders of the council should be telling the chief executive it's time to move on and find a new challenege elsewhere.
Because Annemarie O'Donnell has played a crucial role throughout this shameful ALEO episode, both in terms of establishing these arm's length bodies and in presiding over pay arrangements which treated Cordia's largely female workforce as second class citizens.
Subject: Council Family Review Update: message from Annemarie O'Donnell Chief Executive
I want to keep you up to date about proposed changes to the council family structure as a result of the ongoing council family review, which aims to make sure we have the most efficient and effective operating model to deliver best value services for the city.
A report is going to the council’s City Administration Committee for a decision on 19 April about the future of Cordia and the services delivered by Community Safety Glasgow on our behalf.
Cordia
We have reviewed the services that Cordia deliver and we are recommending that these vital services for citizens can be delivered more efficiently under other council services, as outlined below, and Cordia LLPs can be wound up, although the brand name of Cordia and Encore could be retained. This will allow us to remove duplication and streamline services to make them more efficient. Cordia staff would also transfer to the council services below.
* Homecare and associated care services including operational support and contact services to be transferred to Social Work Services under the direction of the Health and Social Care partnership.
* Facilities Management services including catering to be transferred to Property and Land Services, Development and Regeneration Services.
* Remaining support staff would transfer to an appropriate functional area in the council including: human resources, finance, communications, procurement and business administration.
Community Safety Glasgow
We have also reviewed the services that Community Safety Glasgow (CSG) deliver on our behalf and are recommending that these services can be more efficiently delivered under the management of the Executive Director for Neighbourhoods and Sustainability. CSG support staff would also transfer to an appropriate functional area in the council including: human resources, finance, communications, business administration and facilities.
Best value services for the city
The council has an ongoing responsibility to review its structures and the delivery of its services to make sure that we continue to meet legislative changes, avoid duplication and deliver best value efficient and effective services for the city. We also need to consider that the shape of the council family has changed since the ALEOs were established and new legislative partnerships have been formed, including the Health and Social Care partnership with the NHS and the more recent Glasgow Community Planning Partnership.
With all this in mind, the recommendations in the report are a result of more detailed business cases with input from all affected areas of the council family to achieve the best operating model for council services.
Next Steps
All affected staff will receive a communication about how these proposals could affect them from the directors of the organisation they work for. If the proposals in the report are approved, an implementation plan will be developed with a view to staff transfers taking place no later than 30 September 2018 for Cordia and 31 March 2019 for CSG.
I will communicate the decision of the committee after this has been taken on 19 April. The full report will be published in the public meeting agenda on Friday 13 April on council’s website here<http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/latestMeetings.asp?sort=2&page=1>
Regards,
Annemarie O’Donnell
Chief Executive
I want to keep you up to date about proposed changes to the council family structure as a result of the ongoing council family review, which aims to make sure we have the most efficient and effective operating model to deliver best value services for the city.
A report is going to the council’s City Administration Committee for a decision on 19 April about the future of Cordia and the services delivered by Community Safety Glasgow on our behalf.
Cordia
We have reviewed the services that Cordia deliver and we are recommending that these vital services for citizens can be delivered more efficiently under other council services, as outlined below, and Cordia LLPs can be wound up, although the brand name of Cordia and Encore could be retained. This will allow us to remove duplication and streamline services to make them more efficient. Cordia staff would also transfer to the council services below.
* Homecare and associated care services including operational support and contact services to be transferred to Social Work Services under the direction of the Health and Social Care partnership.
* Facilities Management services including catering to be transferred to Property and Land Services, Development and Regeneration Services.
* Remaining support staff would transfer to an appropriate functional area in the council including: human resources, finance, communications, procurement and business administration.
Community Safety Glasgow
We have also reviewed the services that Community Safety Glasgow (CSG) deliver on our behalf and are recommending that these services can be more efficiently delivered under the management of the Executive Director for Neighbourhoods and Sustainability. CSG support staff would also transfer to an appropriate functional area in the council including: human resources, finance, communications, business administration and facilities.
Best value services for the city
The council has an ongoing responsibility to review its structures and the delivery of its services to make sure that we continue to meet legislative changes, avoid duplication and deliver best value efficient and effective services for the city. We also need to consider that the shape of the council family has changed since the ALEOs were established and new legislative partnerships have been formed, including the Health and Social Care partnership with the NHS and the more recent Glasgow Community Planning Partnership.
With all this in mind, the recommendations in the report are a result of more detailed business cases with input from all affected areas of the council family to achieve the best operating model for council services.
Next Steps
All affected staff will receive a communication about how these proposals could affect them from the directors of the organisation they work for. If the proposals in the report are approved, an implementation plan will be developed with a view to staff transfers taking place no later than 30 September 2018 for Cordia and 31 March 2019 for CSG.
I will communicate the decision of the committee after this has been taken on 19 April. The full report will be published in the public meeting agenda on Friday 13 April on council’s website here<http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/latestMeetings.asp?sort=2&page=1>
Regards,
Annemarie O’Donnell
Chief Executive
Glasgow's Shame Over ALEOs (17/02/18)
Here's a little reminder that the appalling decision to set up Glasgow's ALEOs (Arms Length External Organisations) was headed up by the City Council's current chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell - see article below from Holyrood Magazine.
Following a two year secondment as deputy director of social work services, she returned to corporate services in 2007, serving as assistant director and head of external governance as the council established its ALEOs.
Now since the real reason for setting up ALEOs in the first place was a shameful attempt to circumvent the Glasgow City Council's obligations over equal pay, surely it's time close these organisations down.
Yet again the Court of Session sent Glasgow City Council packing and if you ask me, the politicians and officials behind this crazy scheme owe the workforce an apology.
Glasgow - Equal Pay Update (09/01/18)
Here's an interesting article from 'Holyrood Magazine' which was published back in 2014 just as Annemarie O'Donnell's was appointed as the new and first woman chief executive of Glasgow City Council.
The upshot is that Annemarie has been in a variety of senior positions within the council for a very long time - through the Christmas 2005 'capped' settlement offers, the introduction of the WPBR in 2007 and the establishment of Glasgow's ALEOs - before succeeding Ian Drummond as executive director of corporate services and then George Black as CEO.
What puzzles me though is why there has been such a long and hard fight for equal pay in Glasgow when the City Council has such powerful women in its senior ranks?
Regular readers will know that Carole Forrest succeeded Annemarie as executive director of corporate services (which deals with Freedom of Information requests) and that Glasgow now has a woman Lord Provost (Eva Bolander) and a woman council leader (Susan Aitken).
The political changes at the top of the City Council are relatively recent, of course, but isn't it remarkable that the battle over equal pay has been so fierce in Glasgow - even with women officials in the most senior positions.
New chief executive for Glasgow City Council
Written by Kate Shannon on 12 November 2014 in News
Annemarie O’Donnell has been appointed
Glasgow City Council has appointed a new chief executive to replace George Black, who retires next month.
Annemarie O’Donnell, who has been the council’s executive director of corporate services since 2011, was chosen for the role last week.
Black announced his retirement in August and will leave the council on 11 December.
Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The quality of candidates was exceptionally high but Annemarie brings a wealth of experience, passion and vision to the role and was the unanimous choice of the interview panel.
"There has never been a more exciting time to work in Glasgow, with the city in the spotlight like never before following the best ever Commonwealth Games and the signing of Scotland’s first city deal. I am in no doubt that Annemarie is the best possible choice to lead our dedicated and talented staff through the next chapter in our city’s long and proud history.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank George Black for his exceptional work on behalf of the city and wish him every happiness and success in the future.”
I believe we have the energy, the ideas and, crucially, the best people to meet those challenges
O’Donnell, 49, is a qualified solicitor and a member of the Law Society of Scotland. She has two adult children and her husband is a lawyer specialising in criminal law.
After joining Glasgow District Council from a legal practice in the east end of Glasgow in 1991, she worked as a solicitor and then senior solicitor in a team focusing on construction, housing and planning.
Following local government reorganisation in 1996, she was promoted to chief solicitor, leading the council’s work on commercial contracts, procurement, planning and environmental law.
In 2003, O’Donnell was appointed assistant head of legal and administrative services, a new post that saw her take responsibility for the running of elections for the first time – along with committee services, registrars, litigation, licensing and corporate law.
Following a two year secondment as deputy director of social work services, she returned to corporate services in 2007, serving as assistant director and head of external governance as the council established its ALEOs.
She said: “I am delighted and humbled to have been appointed. This is a really exciting time for Glasgow. There is no doubt the next few years will be challenging for everyone in local government. But I believe we have the energy, the ideas and, crucially, the best people to meet those challenges.”
Read Holyrood’s full interview with George Black here.
Glasgow's Shame Over ALEOs (14/02/18)
How's this for a nonsense story from the Evening Times?
Services provided by ALEOs are part of Glasgow City Council yet they are being spoken about here as if they 'owe' the council money!
Glasgow's ALEOs were set up by a previous Labour administration in a effort to escape the council's obligations over equal pay.
At the time, Glasgow argued that ALEOs were completely separate employers and independent legal entities which meant (they said) that workers employed in ALEOs could not compare their pay to comparable (male) workers in other parts of the council.
A4ES challenged this argument in the Court of Session and won which is a good thing if you ask me, because were it not for this ruling the fight for equal pay in Glasgow would have been stopped in its tracks years ago.
But it just goes to show you what sneaky moves and dirty tricks these senior officials get up to given half a chance.
As everyone now knows, staff working for Cordia who predominantly women, of course, are employed on poorer pay and conditions than those working in other male dominated areas of the council, e.g. Land Services and City Building!
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15989868.Aleos_come_up_short_on_cash_for_Glasgow_City_Council/
Aleos come up short on cash for Glasgow City Council
By Stewart Paterson - Evening Times
Cordia, the council’s catering and care service, is said to be £2m down on projections
GLASGOW City Council’s Aleos have a £2 million shortfall in the last three months, according to the latest report.
The monitoring report into the ten Arms Length External Organisations owned by the council shows they are coming up short of the budgeted for cash expectations.
The firms, that are intended to deliver a discount, meaning cash goes back to the council, are not making as much as anticipated.
The biggest deficits are showing for Cordia the council’s catering and care firm and Glasgow Life which runs museums, libraries and leisure centres.
Cordia is £2m down while Glasgow Life is £1.3m lower than projected.
The reports said Glasgow Life was struggling with income from its Glasgow Sport arm.
It stated: Actual income in Sport is lower than anticipated and continues to be extremely challenging.”
The Aleo is predicting a deficit of £1m for the year compared to a budget expectation is would break even.
The report added: “Glasgow Life are putting in place various interventions to manage this through underspends across the service.”
Cordia has a surplus of £31,000 against a budgeted for surplus of £2,059,000. The monitoring report found that the catering and technical care operations were doing better than forecast but the home care and facilities sections were below expectations.
It is £1m lower than the expected surplus of almost £3.5m.
The council’s budget expects income form the Aleos termed discounts totalling more than £14m.
The report stated: “ Forecast shortfalls in their surplus are reporter for Cordia, City Property and City Building which is likely to impact on the discount which is due to be returned to the council. City Property and City Building are mitigating this shortfall with the use of reserves and carry forwards.”
The council is due to set the budget in the next few weeks with further cuts expected to departments.
A spokesman for the City Council said A spokesman said: “Both organisations are on track to return a surplus to the council, however, the report details that, at quarter three, these are below the levels budgeted at the start of the financial year.
“These are known issues that are taken account of in the council’s overall financial position.”
