Riddle Me This, Glasgow? (16/11/18)

Here's another puzzler for The Riddler:

"If senior officials in Glasgow always act under the direction of the Council's political leaders, who is authorising GCC's negotiators to say that the Council is prepared to fight 'every single issue' at Employment Tribunal?"

Because this surely amounts to a willingness to defend the WPBR even though senior Glasgow politicians are on record as agreeing that GCC's pay arrangements are 'unfit for purpose' since they discriminate against the Council's largely female workforce.

Not just that, of course, the Council's would also be going back on its word to have a settlement in place before the end of 2018. 

  

Glasgow - In Denial (04/11/18)

I'm generally an optimist when it comes to complex and difficult negotiations - my motto over the years has always been 'Where there's a will there's a way'.

But I would just like to add something to Stefan's update on the ongoing settlement talks with Glasgow City Council.

The threat made by senior officials to 'fight every single issue they can in tribunal' if negotiations fail, is proof positive that the legal battle with Glasgow City Council has not ended - despite what some politicians claim.

In other words, senior officials are still prepared to defend the 'unfit for purpose' WPBR and this must include the infamous 37 hour rule which was clearly designed to discriminate against the Council's largely female workforce.

Beggars belief, if you ask me, so let's hope the Council comes to its senses before its too late!  

 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Someone asked what am I expecting from the meetings. This was my answer. I hope it helps and is clear. But as always comments read with interest.

The outcome should be a “scheme” to calculate offers we can recommend to cover the period up to March 18. (although that could be a negotiating issue. They might suggest an earlier date)

This scheme can then get political approval
Then finance
Then offers
Then payment (no sooner than April)
Then new JES plus pay and grading (likeliest 2021)

The council often talk about a “number”or “offer” by December but that’s not realistic because they need to verify 13600 files involving well over 30000 contracts.

If no agreement is reached then we will report back why we’ve not succeeded and the members can decide what to do. It might be that The Leader may need to intervene.

We will carry on preparing for the tribunal hearings listed in February plus spring and summer.

If that happens the officers have told us that they will seek to prevent even the protection period going to remedy and will fight every single issue they can in tribunal. We presume they got political permission to make that threat. Doesn’t scare me but does show our continued problem with officers.

I imagine there might be a little unrest.

But I sincerely hope the council sees sense and delivers


Stefan Cross

Riddle Me This Glasgow? (23/10/18)

I couldn't sleep last night as I tossed and turned trying to find an answer to the following question:

"If senior officials in Glasgow City Council have always acted under the direction of the Council's political leaders, then who authorised GCC's chief executive (Annemarie O'Donnell) to take legal action and seek leave to appeal the landmark 'unfit for purpose' WPBR judgment of the Court of Session?"

Now this action resulted in months of delay between the original judgment in August 2017 and the subsequent 'leave to appeal' hearing in December 2017 which Glasgow City Council lost again - by another unanimous decision in Scotland's highest civil court.

So who insisted on this course of action - senior officials in GCC or the political leadership of the Council?

I think we should be told - in the interests of openness and transparency.

  

Riddle me this, Glasgow? (01/09/18)

I posed this 'riddle' back in May 2018 when Glasgow City Council first came under real pressure for dragging its feet over equal pay settlement settlement negotiations with A4ES, GMB and Unison.

Four months on and the situation hasn't changed, in fact things have got worse because another four months have gone by and not a single thing of substance has been agreed.

The proof of the pudding is that serious negotiations over the Pay Gap and Male Comparator Jobs have still to get off the ground.

So I say again to the Council bosses and bigwigs:

"If equal pay settlement 'negotiations' with Glasgow City Council are making such good progress, why are the trade unions (GMB and Unison) balloting their members on industrial action?"

  

Riddle me this, Glasgow? (11/05/18)

Ask yourself this question, Glasgow - then answer it as honestly as you can.

"If equal pay settlement negotiations with the City Council are making such good progress, why do the trade unions (Unison and GMB) think it necessary to consult their members on industrial action?"

  

Get Serious, Glasgow! (03/05/18)

Lots of readers have been in touch with comments and questions about the industrial action ballots in support of the fight with Glasgow City Council for equal pay - here's what Stefan and I had to say on Facebook.

Hi Mark

What is the opinion of A4ES on the Strike Ballot papers issued to all Unison members. 

Would striking be recommended by yourselves?

J

Hi J

It's a consultative ballot rather than an official strike ballot, at this stage, and the purpose is to test the level of support for taking industrial action, if the City Council continues to drag its feet over settlement negotiations and replacing WPBR. 

So I would certainly encourage people to vote Yes!

Because by doing so they will send a strong message to the Council to 'get its finger out'! 

Mark Irvine


Hi Mark 

That's exactly my thoughts as well. So fed up with the council and their delaying tactics and not progressing with the actual settlement negotiations. 

Thanks for the clarification. 

J


HELL YES!

several folk have asked how I would vote in the ballot.

Easy - YES!

why? :

1 time to stand up and be counted

2 it has already made the council sit up and take notice. The threat of an imposed interim payment has been taken off the agenda for the moment and the council are finally looking at our proposals seriously

3 the council read out a prepared statement objecting - I will cover this when I have exact wording. Your industrial and political weight is making all the difference. We need to keep this up

4 a consultative ballot commits us to nothing but shows we’re serious. There’s a long way to go to an actual strike. This is just the first essential step.

5. The council literally laughed at suggestion they will produce counter proposal by 22nd. There is still no sense of urgency from the officers. They need to get serious. The ballot will help.

Your biggest weapon is your solidarity. 

Keep it up.

Stefan Cross