Glasgow - Stranger Things

Much more to follow soon on the strange omission of Frances Stojilkovic and Glasgow's fight for equal pay -  from the Evening Times 'Scotswoman of the Year Award 2018'.

In the meantime, here's what readers of the blog site thought about the paper's remarkable own goal. 

  

SOTY 2018 - Own Goal by Evening Times (28/02/19)

Here are two more very pointed comments about the Evening Times failure to include Glasgow's Frances Stojilkovic on its shortlist for Scotswoman of the Year 2018.

Really disappointing we all know how many women, the hardest working women in this city, nominated Frances

J

‘Is it that they are too working class to be a proper feminist rights story, and too female to be a proper workers rights story’...?

C

I couldn't agree more and I have to say I think it's a terrible own goal by the newspaper.

I'm sure that the thousands Glasgow City Council workers who have been fighting for their rights to equal pay for the past 12 years will be deeply unimpressed.

  

SOTY 2018 - Readers Comments (27/02/19)

I'm sure Frances S won't be losing any sleep at not reaching the shortlist for Scotswoman of the Year 2018, but the more you think about it the more outrageous it is that such an outstanding local candidate from Glasgow wasn't deemed worthy of consideration.

A bit of a joke and a terrible own goal by the newspaper if you ask me and I'm pleased to say that lots of people on Facebook seem to agree!

Just read the list of finalists for Scotswoman of The Year and unfortunately our wee Frances is not on it. Frances will forever be our Scotswoman of The Year for all her hard work 

J

Read the list I only recognise one name. our Frances Stojilkovic should be there!!!!

B

After what they done to carers the weekend before the strike, I wouldn’t give them headspace

M

Shame on them

P

How is she not on it.....pure fix lol x


Z

Ask GCC

G 

Aww that's shocking.xx

P

Might’ve known that the Evening Times wouldn’t let her reach the final ! After all Susan writes for the paper ! 

E

Strange as plenty people voted for her

K

Still a winner hen xx

L

She is defo our winner !!!!

A

Aw never mind guys im still honoured that you all voted for me xx

Frances

Frances your our woman of the year xx

L

You are "thee woman " to all of us . & u have no competition whatsoever ..true heroine who went above and beyond ..so well done to u

A 

Lets put it this way Francis your name will pop up in History because of the major part you played with the equal pay issue.
SO you don't need woman of the year.....

C

Frances will always be our no 1

R

Very surprised and disappointed xx

J

Must be because its political! there's no way all our votes didn't count!!!

B

You are our winner

E

Stupid phone lol

E

You'll always be remembered and our no.1 woman of any year, we owe you so muchxxx

D

Surprised but You’ll still go down in history

H

It would be good to see the vote counts.
Fix.
Lol.
X

L

As that's so sad, but Francis will always be remembered as the lady that lead the fight. One in a million 👏👏💖

D

The Evening Times can stick there newspaper where the sun don't shine 

S

U have won with us Frances xx

R

Should win hands down,you're our hero.x

R

So sorry Frances you deserve a bloody medal for the work you have done but never mind we appreciate everything you have done for us although i have been away two years your a hero in our eyes you will get your reward someday i hope soon thanks Frances from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done you must be so proud of yourself thank you so much xx

B

  

Well done to all the women who are being considered for the award of Scotswoman of the Year 2018 - they are all worthy candidates in their very different ways.

But quite how Glasgow's very own Frances Stojilkovic didn't make the final shortlist is astonishing - her service as a Home  Carer, her contribution to the historic fight for equal pay in Glasgow and her wider community work made Frances a stand-out candidate.

I did ask the editor of the Evening Times (Donald Martin) to share the details of the Judging Panel which selected the finalists, but strangely he failed to answer my question.

So if anyone knows who was on the panel of judges, drop me a line in confidence at - markirvine@compuserve.com 

If you ask me, the Evening Times decision is a big slap in the face to all the local Glaswegians who nominated Frances for this award - and with very good reason.

   

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17458988.swoty-2018-and-youngswoty-2018-meet-the-finalists/

People Make Glasgow - Frances Stojilkovic (31/01/19)

I've just nominated Frances Stojilkovic for the 'Scotswoman of the Year 2018' award which is being organised by the Evening Times in association with the St. Enoch Centre.

Here's what I said about Frances in support of my nomination along with an internet link explaining the background to this annual event.

More details to follow soon and the very best of luck Frances who has played such a huge role in her local community and, of course, in Glasgow's long fight for equal pay.

Because becoming 'Scotswoman of the Year 2018' would knock an OBE, MBE or even a CBE into a cocked hat any day of the week - well in my book anyway!

  

http://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/swoty/  

Frances Stojilkovic - Scotswoman of the Year 2018

I would like to nominate Glasgow’s Frances Stojilkovic as ‘Scotswoman of the Year 2018’ because she is an inspiring, irrepressible role model for women of all ages.

Frances is one of Glasgow’s 2,500 Home Support Workers and for the past 15 years she has been looking after the most vulnerable people in our local community. 

More recently Frances has played a vital role in Glasgow’s historic fight for equal pay which culminated in an agreement to settle the Council’s 14,000 outstanding cases at a cost of £500 million, after a lengthy battle in and out of the courts.

The enormous sum of money involved represents the pay and pensions which low paid, predominantly female council council workers lost over 12 years as a result of Glasgow City Council’s discriminatory pay arrangements, known locally as the Workforce Pay and Benefits Review (WPBR).

The WPBR was introduced originally in 2007, but the controversial pay scheme was subsequently condemned as ‘unfit for purpose’ by the Court of Session, Scotland’s highest civil court, in August 2017.

Frances started up her own Facebook page in support of the campaign for equal pay and this has been instrumental in galvanising support across the city - not just from other low paid workers (cleaners, carers, catering workers, clerical staff, classroom assistants etc), but from the wider public as well.

Frances’s high profile role in Glasgow’s equal pay campaign attracted the attention of Anne Robinson, well known for a variety of TV roles, who made a film about the 2018 struggle for pay equality - 'The Trouble with Women’ - highlighting the need for Glasgow's campaign almost 50 years after the 1970 Equal Pay Act. 

In her spare time, Frances is also a committed community activist who has done a huge amount of voluntary work in Govanhill to increase community safety, tackle crime and generally improve the local area.

In recent years some of Glasgow’s most senior council officials have been awarded public honours from the Queen - OBEs, MBEs, CBEs - for their services to local government and the charitable sector.

So instead of the ‘usual suspects’ it would be great to see one of Glasgow’s unsung foot soldiers being recognised for her selfless contribution to better the lives of her co-workers and fellow citizens.