Glasgow MSPs - The Quiet Bunch
I was delighted to see the announcement that if re-elected next May the SNP goverment have committed to providing every primary school child a free school meal and breakfast during term time and the throughout the school holidays. pic.twitter.com/riKbk1hA1p
— Ivan McKee MSP (@Ivan_McKee) December 23, 2020
I may have missed it, but so far I haven’t seen any comment from Ivan McKee or his fellow MSPs on the Glasgow Home Carers campaign for regular Covid testing.
If anyone knows differently, please drop me a line because I will be pleased to share any messages of support from Ivan or other Glasgow MSPs on the blog.
Glasgow's Home Carers - Industrial Action Looms (21/12/20)
As I suggested last week things are definitely heating up in Glasgow with 93% of GMB members voting to support industrial action in a dispute over regular Covid testing for Home Care workers.
It's completely scandalous that Glasgow's Home Carers are forced to consider going on strike to protect themselves and their vulnerable clients - especially when Scottish Ministers pulled out all the stops to get university students home safely for Christmas.
I understand that Unison is now consulting its membership in the City Council as well, so let's hope the politicians come to their senses.
I haven't heard anything from Glasgow's MSPs even though they have plenty to say on other issues.
No doubt that's something to return to in the New Year, but in the meantime here's a list of Glasgow's constituency MSPs along with their email addresses.
Bob.Doris.msp@scottish.parliament.uk (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn)
James.Dornan.msp@scottish.parliament.uk (Glasgow Cathcart)
Bill.Kidd.msp@cottish.parliament.uk (Glasgow Anniesland)
John.Mason.msp@scottish.parliament.uk (Glasgow Shettleston)
Ian.McKee.msp@cottish.parliament.uk (Glasgow Provan)
Nicola.Sturgeon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk (Glasgow Southside)
Sandra.White.msp@cottish.parliament.uk (Glasgow Kelvin)
Humza.Yousaf.msp@scottish.parliament.uk (Glasgow Pollok)
Glasgow HSCP Consultative Ballot Result – 93 per cent support for industrial action on testing
The result is now in for your consultative ballot over the mid-January timeline for the roll-out of workplace COVID-19 testing in home care.
You were asked: Are you prepared to take industrial action including strike action in order to secure immediate and regular testing for Covid-19? You replied:
YES 93%
NO 7%
NO 7%
You have sent a loud and clear message to your employer and to Ministers: Don’t leave us at the back of the queue in the roll-out of COVID-19 testing.
Our challenge now to our politicians is simple. They need to find a way to give us the support we need and deserve for
Christmas by accelerating the introduction of workplace testing for home care in Glasgow, and across Scotland.
We will be in touch again very shortly with updates on our next steps. In the meantime, thank you for your magnificent participation and solidarity in our fight for proper health and safety protections for the vital work we do.
Shona Thomson
GMB Scotland Branch Secretary
GMB Scotland Branch Secretary
Glasgow - Things Are Heating Up (18/12/20)
Well things are certainly heating up in Glasgow as we head towards another New Year.
The GMB union has been consulting its members on industrial action in recent days after Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government rejected their pleas to speed up regular Covid testing for Home Care workers.
Now I hear that Unison is consulting its Glasgow members as well which is hardly surprising, inevitable really.
Because Scottish Ministers pulled out the stops to get university students home safely for Christmas - yet thousands of front line Home Carers in Glasgow are being told to wait until some unspecified time in 2021.
I have to say I expect the same thing to happen over equal pay and job evaluation (JE).
The City Council is committed to a further round of settlements by April 2021, but all the signs are that they are going to try and drag things out into 2022 - or beyond into 2023.
Glasgow's Fight for Equal Pay (13/12/20)
A reminder of where Glasgow's fight for equal pay stood in December 2018 - Council bosses had been dragging their feet for months, but began to negotiate seriously after the history-making, two-day strike in October 2018.
Who knows what's in store for the New Year, but regular readers will recall that April 2021 is the agreed date for completing the new job evaluation (JE) scheme and for the next round of equal pay settlements.
Here's a post from the blog site archive featuring Stefan Cross, Amanda Green, Shona Thomson and the City Council leader, Susan Aitken, on the eve on Glasgow's historic Equal Pay strike back on 23/24 October 2018.
Now as well as repeatedly saying that the strike was 'unnecessary' and that she didn't really understand why it was taking place, the Council leader also claimed that the women had 'won their case' by the time a new Council was elected in May 2017.
Which is very odd, I have to say, because in August 2017 Glasgow City Council tried to overturn the 'unfit for purpose' WPBR decision of the Court of Session - by seeking a further appeal to the UK Supreme Court in London.
The City Council lost this appeal, of course, but it wasn't for the lack of trying that its appeal was shot down in flames at a hearing in Edinburgh on 21 December 2017.
The other strange comment made by the Council leader is that while she says repeatedly (and correctly) that the WPBR pay scheme is blatantly discriminatory - that's not what her officials say in private.
Senior officials say that the Council is prepared to go back to the Employment Tribunals to defend the WPBR - so who is speaking the truth?
If the Council leader think it's unfair to criticise officials who are not present to defend themselves, then why not have a public debate involving the 'head' of the Council Family, Glasgow's chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell, and the Council leader herself?
Now wouldn't that be simply wonderful - I'll bet you could sell tickets.
Here's a link to the BBC's 'Woman's Hour' programme which discussed the fight for equal pay in Glasgow City Council earlier today.
Tune in and decide for yourself whether council bosses are speaking with a forked tongue!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0000syv
I listened to the Woman's Hour programme earlier today which discussed the fight for equal pay in Glasgow City Council.
Amanda Green (Unison) Shona Thomson (GMB) and Stefan Cross (A4ES) all gave a great account of themselves speaking on behalf of 'Team Equal Pay'.
Sadly, I can't say the same about the Council Leader, Susan Aitken, who said she didn't understand why the Glasgow claimants are going on strike.
So for the record and the umpteenth time the claimants are striking because of the Council's failure to deliver the 'serious negotiations' that were promised months ago.
Settlement talks are not making 'good progress', in fact they've broken down and quite incredibly the Council is refusing to talk to the unions (GMB and Unison) while strike action is underway or is being planned.
If settlement talks had been making 'good progress' as Susan Aitken claims, there would be no strike and thousands of outstanding equal pay claims would not be heading back to the Employment Tribunals - which they are!
If you ask me, this kind of insulting, ill-informed rubbish is making things worse rather than better - the claimants have very right to go on strike to make their point and instead of attacking the workforce, the Council should be listening to what they have to say.
Glasgow's workers are not 'mindless sheep'.
Stefan Cross and two carers are on the BBC's Radio 4 programme at 10am this morning to discuss the fight for equal pay with Glasgow City Council.
Seems to me the carers are being treated as second class citizens since Scottish Ministers have found the resources needed to get students tested and home safely for Christmas.
Glasgow's Fight for Equal Pay (08/12/18)
Here's a post from the blog site archive featuring Stefan Cross, Amanda Green, Shona Thomson and the City Council leader, Susan Aitken, on the eve on Glasgow's historic Equal Pay strike back on 23/24 October 2018.
Now as well as repeatedly saying that the strike was 'unnecessary' and that she didn't really understand why it was taking place, the Council leader also claimed that the women had 'won their case' by the time a new Council was elected in May 2017.
Which is very odd, I have to say, because in August 2017 Glasgow City Council tried to overturn the 'unfit for purpose' WPBR decision of the Court of Session - by seeking a further appeal to the UK Supreme Court in London.
The City Council lost this appeal, of course, but it wasn't for the lack of trying that its appeal was shot down in flames at a hearing in Edinburgh on 21 December 2017.
The other strange comment made by the Council leader is that while she says repeatedly (and correctly) that the WPBR pay scheme is blatantly discriminatory - that's not what her officials say in private.
Senior officials say that the Council is prepared to go back to the Employment Tribunals to defend the WPBR - so who is speaking the truth?
If the Council leader think it's unfair to criticise officials who are not present to defend themselves, then why not have a public debate involving the 'head' of the Council Family, Glasgow's chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell, and the Council leader herself?
Now wouldn't that be simply wonderful - I'll bet you could sell tickets.
Glasgow's Fight for Equal Pay (22/10/18)
Here's a link to the BBC's 'Woman's Hour' programme which discussed the fight for equal pay in Glasgow City Council earlier today.
Tune in and decide for yourself whether council bosses are speaking with a forked tongue!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0000syv
Glasgow's Equal Pay Claimants Know Why They're Striking! (22/10/18)
I listened to the Woman's Hour programme earlier today which discussed the fight for equal pay in Glasgow City Council.
Amanda Green (Unison) Shona Thomson (GMB) and Stefan Cross (A4ES) all gave a great account of themselves speaking on behalf of 'Team Equal Pay'.
Sadly, I can't say the same about the Council Leader, Susan Aitken, who said she didn't understand why the Glasgow claimants are going on strike.
So for the record and the umpteenth time the claimants are striking because of the Council's failure to deliver the 'serious negotiations' that were promised months ago.
Settlement talks are not making 'good progress', in fact they've broken down and quite incredibly the Council is refusing to talk to the unions (GMB and Unison) while strike action is underway or is being planned.
If settlement talks had been making 'good progress' as Susan Aitken claims, there would be no strike and thousands of outstanding equal pay claims would not be heading back to the Employment Tribunals - which they are!
If you ask me, this kind of insulting, ill-informed rubbish is making things worse rather than better - the claimants have very right to go on strike to make their point and instead of attacking the workforce, the Council should be listening to what they have to say.
Glasgow's workers are not 'mindless sheep'.
Woman's Hour and Glasgow's Fight for Equal Pay
Stefan Cross and two carers are on the BBC's Radio 4 programme at 10am this morning to discuss the fight for equal pay with Glasgow City Council.
Glasgow Home Carers - Fobbed Off and Fed Up (09/12/20)
Seems to me the carers are being treated as second class citizens since Scottish Ministers have found the resources needed to get students tested and home safely for Christmas.
Yet refuse to pull the stops out for regular Covid testing to protect front-line carers and their clients.
Coronavirus Scotland: Glasgow home carers demand immediate Covid workplace testing
By Ruth Suter - Glasgow Times
'Put to the back of the queue': Glasgow home carers demand immediate Covid-19 workplace testing
Home carers in Glasgow are demanding immediate workplace testing for coronavirus amid anger of being "put to the back of the queue.
Workers through Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) have hit out at the roll-out of the Scottish Government's priority testing programme.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Friday, October 23 that priority testing would be extended to home care workers - only for the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to announce just one month later that testing would be rolled-out for home care from mid-January.
Since then, two temporary testing sites have been launched by Glasgow City Councilin Dalmarnock and Pollokshields. Students have been offered tests to return home for Christmas while pilot projects have been launched to test care home visitors.
Almost 1500 GMB home care members will be asked if they are prepared to take industrial action to secure immediate and regular testing at work for Covid-19.
Rhea Wolfson of the GMB Scotland Women’s Campaign Unit said: “There is no excuse for leaving home carers waiting until next year for COVID-19 testing at work. The First Minister said home carers would get priority testing, but this isn’t what a priority looks like, this is how it feels to be put to the back of the queue.
“If testing centres can be set-up in high risk communities within a matter of days, and if students can get a test to return home to their families for Christmas, then why are home carers, who will work in these communities throughout the festive period, being left to wait?
“We’ve asked the council to intervene, the council say they are waiting on more guidance from government, but there is no trust left in the government’s promises and timelines. From PPE to testing these workers have been consistently failed over the last ten months.
“Our members believe the only people who will stand-up for their safety and value are themselves, campaigning together under the banner of their trade union, and they have been left with no choice but to ballot.”
The ballot will start today and end at 12pm on Thursday, December 17.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Our social care key workers are on the frontline of our national pandemic response and their work is hugely valued. It is crucial that they are able to access testing when needed, with results provided in a timely manner.
“We have announced plans for significant expansion in testing – initially in areas of highest virus prevalence – for hospital patients, health and social care staff.
“In social care, testing will be expanded over the coming months for designated visitors, visiting professional staff, and care at home workers. A full roll out will come in January.
“The introduction of lateral flow testing in the New Year to the care at home workforce will enhance existing visiting guidance providing an additional layer of protection. No test is 100% accurate, and testing will not replace other layers of protection, including appropriate PPE and Infection, prevention and control protocols.”
Coronavirus Scotland: Glasgow home carers demand immediate Covid workplace testing
By Ruth Suter - Glasgow Times
'Put to the back of the queue': Glasgow home carers demand immediate Covid-19 workplace testing
Home carers in Glasgow are demanding immediate workplace testing for coronavirus amid anger of being "put to the back of the queue.
Workers through Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) have hit out at the roll-out of the Scottish Government's priority testing programme.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Friday, October 23 that priority testing would be extended to home care workers - only for the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to announce just one month later that testing would be rolled-out for home care from mid-January.
Since then, two temporary testing sites have been launched by Glasgow City Councilin Dalmarnock and Pollokshields. Students have been offered tests to return home for Christmas while pilot projects have been launched to test care home visitors.
Almost 1500 GMB home care members will be asked if they are prepared to take industrial action to secure immediate and regular testing at work for Covid-19.
Rhea Wolfson of the GMB Scotland Women’s Campaign Unit said: “There is no excuse for leaving home carers waiting until next year for COVID-19 testing at work. The First Minister said home carers would get priority testing, but this isn’t what a priority looks like, this is how it feels to be put to the back of the queue.
“If testing centres can be set-up in high risk communities within a matter of days, and if students can get a test to return home to their families for Christmas, then why are home carers, who will work in these communities throughout the festive period, being left to wait?
“We’ve asked the council to intervene, the council say they are waiting on more guidance from government, but there is no trust left in the government’s promises and timelines. From PPE to testing these workers have been consistently failed over the last ten months.
“Our members believe the only people who will stand-up for their safety and value are themselves, campaigning together under the banner of their trade union, and they have been left with no choice but to ballot.”
The ballot will start today and end at 12pm on Thursday, December 17.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Our social care key workers are on the frontline of our national pandemic response and their work is hugely valued. It is crucial that they are able to access testing when needed, with results provided in a timely manner.
“We have announced plans for significant expansion in testing – initially in areas of highest virus prevalence – for hospital patients, health and social care staff.
“In social care, testing will be expanded over the coming months for designated visitors, visiting professional staff, and care at home workers. A full roll out will come in January.
“The introduction of lateral flow testing in the New Year to the care at home workforce will enhance existing visiting guidance providing an additional layer of protection. No test is 100% accurate, and testing will not replace other layers of protection, including appropriate PPE and Infection, prevention and control protocols.”
