Equal Pay and Humble Pie (29/06/18)

Glasgow City Council's chief executive has sent out another banal email regarding the  Council's belated decision to scrap its 'unfit for purpose' WPBR pay scheme.

Yet again Annemarie fails to mention A4ES when she knows full well that we are working closely with the GMB and Unison to deliver open and transparent pay arrangements which command the confidence of the Council's workforce.

The choice of a new job evaluation scheme has not been made as yet, but I'll eat my hat if this doesn't come down in favour of the Scottish Joint Council 'Gauge' scheme which was recommended for use by COSLA (the council employers' body) and the national trade unions - way back in 1999 when I was Unison's Head Local Government in Scotland.  

Almost 20 years later Glasgow is having to accept that its WPBR was an expensive disaster, but even now there is not one word of apology from the senior officials (including Annemarie herself) who approved and defended pay scheme - along with its blatantly discriminatory 37 hour 'rule'.

I'll have more to say about the SJC/Gauge scheme in the weeks ahead, but in the meantime I wonder if and when Annemarie might have the good grace serve herself up an extra large helping of 'humble pie' 

  

Subject: Message from Annemarie O'Donnell: future of the current pay and grading system

Following my message last week, I can now tell you the council has approved the recommendation to replace the current workforce pay and benefits review scheme with a new job evaluation scheme and supporting pay and grading system, for all staff excluding teachers.

The job evaluation work stream, made up of council officers and trade union representatives, will now work together over the next few months to review the choice of schemes available, based on the agreed criteria, and prepare future recommendations for the council to consider.

I will continue to keep you informed about future recommendations on a new pay and grading system.  Although I can’t tell everyone how this will affect them right now, I can assure you that any changes to pay and grading will be supported with a staff communication and engagement plan to keep everyone informed.

You can read the full report ‘future of the current pay and grading system’ on the council’s website here. 

At this stage it is difficult to answer questions about individual circumstances but you can always talk to your line manager or local HR teams if you have any concerns.

If you have any questions about the council’s decision then you can also email me at Ask Annemarie. 

Regards,

Annemarie O’Donnell

Chief Executive

Glasgow - Pay and Grading System (25/06/18)

Annemarie O'Donnell has sent out yet another update about the long, slow death of Glasgow's 'unfit for purpose' WPBR while again failing to mention that she fought for years to defend the cockamamy pay scheme, until its fate was finally sealed at the Court of Session, Scotland's highest civil court, in August 2017.

For some reason A4ES has been airbrushed out of history (again) in Annemarie's latest missive, but let me assure A4ES claimants that our very own Karl Bromley is involved in these discussions to replace the WPBR, and is working closely with GMB and Unison to deliver a new scheme which can command the support of the council's workforce.

Which is a good thing if you ask me, because Karl Bromley and A4ES have done more than the Council's chief executive to stand up for the interests of Glasgow's lowest paid workers - despite Annemarie's continued use of the phrase 'council family'. 

  

Subject: Message from Annemarie O'Donnell: Future of the current pay and grading system 

You may recall that I wrote to you last month to tell you that we had agreed with our trade unions to seek the council’s approval to replace the current workforce pay and benefits review scheme with a new job evaluation scheme and supporting pay and grading system, for all non-teaching staff. 

A paper has now been prepared to ask the Council’s Administration Committee to approve this recommendation at the next meeting on 28 June. You can read the paper called the ‘future of current pay and grading system’ now on the council’s website under the public agenda here.

Following next week’s meeting I will let everyone know about the council’s decision on this important matter. You can also check the online minutes of this meeting on the council’s website to find this out.

To support a review a job evaluation work stream, made up of council officers and trade union representatives, has already been set up to consider what’s the most important criteria to look for in a new job evaluation scheme. If the recommendation is approved, then this group will work together over the next few months to review the choice of schemes available, based on the agreed criteria, and prepare future recommendations for the council to consider.

Once again, I want to say that I am committed to making sure that everyone in the council family is paid equally for equal work in the future. And that the council will continue to meet regularly with the representatives of equal pay claimants to negotiate settlements.

Regards,


Annemarie O’Donnell
Chief Executive

Are We Family? (15/06/18)

Compare and contrast the 'second class' treatment of Glasgow's Cordia workers to the generosity extended to the City Council's outgoing director of finance - to allow Lynn Brown to access her pension early.

What do Glasgow's politicians - Councillors, MSPs and MPs - think about the City Council's behaviour?