Glasgow's 'Local Heroes' (31/10/18)
Suspect Glasgow's refuse workers will have to go on a diet after all the chocolates they've been showered with in the wake of last week's strike.
I hear that the workers involved are being punished by their managers for refusing to cross picket lines, via a ban on overtime in the run-up to Christmas which seems very nasty and vindictive, if you ask me.
If anyone can shed light on what's going on and why, drop me a note - markirvine@compuserve.com
More 'Local Heroes' (30/10/18)
Glasgow's equal pay claimants send a message to the council workers who refused to cross their picket lines during last week's strike!
Message for Annemarie - The real meaning of 'Council Family' (29/10/18)
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.
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.
