Equal Pay in South Lanarkshire

Since the judgement was delivered in the South Lanarkshire Equal Pay a number of things have happened.
Firstly Fox Cross Solicitors issued a Press release and got lots of media coverage. Essentially they claimed victory and used the occasion to attack the Council for not doing what every other Council in Scotland has done, settle out of court and pay out to women 5 years (or more) back money of which they would get 10%. Given the figures quoted in the press of the amount of money the Council were due to pay out, Fox Cross looked set to pick up millions of pounds in fees. Given the costs that they will have so far incurred in pursuing the cases it is not surprising that they were keen for an early settlement.
Fox Cross then had a dig at UNISON attacking them for letting down their members and demanding an apology.
They then added the information that the money, thousands and thousands of pounds promised, would be paid out before Christmas.
Inevitably many people started discussing when and how much they would be getting. Rumours then started to circulate of stories about people booking holidays and others making purchases on credit.
All this was perfectly reasonable. If only it was all true! Unfortunately it wasn't.
The judgement was not an end to the case. It was only the preliminaries before round one gets started. Even then the Council were likely to appeal the judgement, so even the preliminary wasn't over.So no money was going to get paid out, if ever, for a very long time.
When I commented on this in the local press and said that people should not incur expenditure on the false promise that claims would be settled soon I was immediately attacked by former UNISON Head of Local Government Mark Irvine on his Action 4 Equality blog. Apparently my reference to not buying a three piece suite on the basis of claims that had not yet won was an affront to women who I seemingly implied were only working for pin money!
This is the same Mark Irvine who advised the then Branch Secrtary of UNISON to continue with the involvement with the Council's Competence Initiative Job Evaluation Scheme when asked for advice. Mr. Irvine seemingly can't remember such an inconvenient fact.
UNISON have issued information to clarify the situation which is available at www.unison-southlanarkshire.org.uk Part of this information is an explanation why this case will take a very long time to get to a conclusion, that not every claim will win and that, contrary to what Fox Cross and Irvine suggest, the South Lanarkshire is not the same as every other Council in Scotland. In that context it would be irresponsible to suggest that people could start counting and spending the money.
Disinformation, distortions and untruths are not helpful to anyone in this situation. Keep up to date and informed by checking the UNISON information and not the self interested comments of those who stand to profit the most from any future settlements.

Join us for a night of entertainment and inspiration with Banner Theatre Band

Fighting the Cuts!

Join UNISON South Lanarkshire for a night’s entertainment and inspiration with Banner Theatre’s 1st of May Band’s multimedia cabaret of songs, music, comedy and video.

The Band delivers a punchy soundscape of reggae, rap, flamenco, folk and blues to lay bare the real story behind the crisis and support the campaign to defend our welfare state.

Fighting the cuts!

- a night of entertainment and inspiration with the Banner Theatre Band

Friday 30 March, 7.30pm

Blantyre Miners Welfare

Tickets free from UNISON

Call the Branch Office on 01698 454690 to make sure you don't miss out on a great night

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South Lanarkshire UNISON Area Meetings

MEMBERS' MEETINGS

EAST KILBRIDE
MON, FEB 6
12:30 PM AND 7PM
COUNCIL OFFICES
EAST KILBRIDE

RUTHERGLEN
TUES, FEB 7
12:30 PM AND 7PM
KING STREET
RUTHERGLEN

LANARK
MON, FEB 13
12:30 PM AND 7PM
COUNCIL OFFICES
SOUTH VENNEL
LANARK

HAMILTON
TUES, FEB 14
12:30 PM AND 7PM
COUNCIL OFFICES
ALMADA STREET
HAMILTON

Come along and have your say!

Young members' meeting

If you're 26 or under and a UNISON member, Cara Wedlock, Young Members' Officer would like to see you at the Young Members' Meeting in February.

"We will be looking at events for the coming year at a Branch, Scottish and National level. We need young members to get more involved in the union. Yes, of course there is a serious side but it is fun too!"

Young Members' Meeting
Wed 22 Feb 2012
5.30 - 6.30 pm
Committee Room 4
Council Offices
Almada Street
Hamilton

Tea/coffee, filled rolls and home backing will be served on arrival.

The biggest strike since 1926 - three million people can't be wrong

What a St Andrew's Day! What camaraderie and solidarity. Today was a great success for the South Lanarkshire Branch UNISON, the unions across the Council, and indeed the unions across the entire public sector.

Millions on strike, millions of public sector workers withdrawing their labour, not to be taken lightly, all with a resounding message for this Government that we will not stand by and watch them steal our pensions. David Cameron reckons it was a damp squib - what planet is he on? It's not the first time we've asked this question.

UNISON and GMB pickets arrived early and braved the freezing cold throughout South Lanarkshire. At the Council HQ, Seniors Together showed their support along with former East Kilbride provost and retired teacher Helen Biggins who has got her pension, but is still prepared to fight for the rights of others.

It was great to see the PCS stewards too. Councillor Alan Scott, also a UNISON member and activist, came along to show his support for the pensions campaign. Councillor McAvoy, leader of the council, had already given a message of support from the Labour Group members, who had cancelled the schedule of meetings for the strike day.

Thousands marched in towns and cities across the UK. South Lanarkshire strikers and their families marched through Glasgow, to the rally at the Barrowlands Ballroom.

Well done to members for the strike action today, and thanks to those of you who we exempted from strike action to make sure that life and limb cover was maintained.

Why I am taking strike action - Stephen Smellie

When I started working for Council in 1984 I joined the Superannuation Scheme – the Pension. I had no choice. In those days it was compulsory. You could opt out if you chose but I didn’t. I recognised that a reasonable pension when you retire was important.

So I entered into a contract with my employer and the Government that I would pay 6% of my salary to my pension and my employer would make a contribution also. This was, in a way, me deferring my wages till a later day, when I retired. The plan was I would work till I was 65 and I wouldn’t have to claim and rely on state benefits to keep me out of poverty.

I am striking because the Government has decided to renege on that contract. They are insisting that I work longer and that I should get a poorer pension when I retire. They are not willing to negotiate on these issues – only on how much poorer a pension it would be. They also want me to increase by 50% what I pay every month towards it. Fortunately for me, being a Council worker, the Scottish Government were persuaded not to pass that on to me but I suspect the Tories and Liberals will come back with that plan if they get away with forcing it onto everyone else in the public sector!

I don’t want to strike but when faced with a Government that won’t negotiate and is now trying to bully us, by threatening to remove even some of the concessions they have made and to change the law to make it even more difficult for union members to take strike action, I don’t think I have any other choice.

South Lanarkshire UNISON Area Meetings

Industrial action...branch officer nominations...constitutional changes...anything else?

As you've no doubt heard, we've got a YES vote for industrial action to protect our pensions. So what next? Members will shortly receive a bulletin from the Branch telling you what this means. We will do our best to keep you up-to-date with any developments.

Better still, do try to get along to one of the Area Meetings. Remember that these meetings are also a forum for you to discuss any other UNISON related matters.

At the November Area Meetings you can also nominate for Branch Officer positions, or propose constitutional amendments.

LANARK
MON, NOV 21ST,
12:30 PM AND 7PM,
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
COUNCIL OFFICES,
SOUTH VENNEL,
LANARK

EAST KILBRIDE
TUES NOV 22ND,
12:30 PM AND 7PM,
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
COUNCIL OFFICES,
CIVIC CENTRE,
EAST KILBRIDE

RUTHERGLEN
MON, NOV 28TH,
12:30 PM AND 7PM
GROUND FLOOR,
KING STREET,
RUTHERGLEN

HAMILTON
TUES, NOV 29TH,
12:30 PM AND 7PM,
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
COUNCIL OFFICES,
ALMADA STREET,
HAMILTON