So the last 48hrs have been confusing for me. I've been trying to learn and as a senior union rep I've tried as I might to understand. There are still questions and I cannot believe the hypocrisy of some Labour cllrs, msp's and mp's in the Glasgow City Council Pay Equality 1/13
GCC has recognised unions. As part of this recognition, unions have the right to negotiate pay and terms. 2/13
While the GCC (Labour) Court case was ongoing, staff were prohibited from striking, as soon as SNP sat in the chair in GCC @SusaninLangside withdrew the court case and admitted liability on behalf of the council. 3/13
Parity has been agreed, but can only be implemented as part of a negotiated settlement ( See 2/ ). This negotiation is ongoing and is expected to complete in December. 4/13
Solidarity with the women that they get the deal they want, but the strike seems pointless to me, however it is in their gift to insist on a vote to strike and once voted, it's in their gift to strike. For what? I don't really know! 5/13
If their Unions have already agreed to an expected negotiated date, then I'm not sure what the strike will achieve.... status quo? i.e. delivery in December? 6/13
Good luck to them.. seriously, they deserve it and @SusaninLangside shared those sentiments when the court case was stopped by her. 7/13
Why are the women in this position? The Unions (including main strike protagonists @GMBScotOrg) agreed a pay deal with GCC (Labour) which protected men's pay without seeking parity of women's pay & pay equality, we know this... this is the situation that brought us here 8/13
The women took GCC (Labour) to court, which was drawn out and elongated. Some of these women died while waiting on completion and GCC (Labour) spent £2.5M (yes Million) on defending the previous pay deal, until SNP took council control in 2016 ( See 3/ ) 9/13
I'm a normal working guy involved in Pay Negotiations (not GCC) and that's my understanding. However it raises a few questions:
1. As main strike protagonists @GMBScotOrg @GMB_union who exactly accepted the previous pay deal that was obviously & deliberately unequal? 10/13
1. As main strike protagonists @GMBScotOrg @GMB_union who exactly accepted the previous pay deal that was obviously & deliberately unequal? 10/13
2. Were any existing councillors, MSPs or MPs who are members of GMB, involved in these pay negotiations or the process to accept the negotiated settlement? Did you 'recommend' the pay offer or was it a 'best settlement through negotiation' or did you recommend to 'reject'? 11/13
3. More specifically, did previous @GMB_union organiser @LabourRichard play any part in getting these women to accept this unequal pay offer with GCC (Labour)? Did he organise on-site stalls or communications encouraging them to accept the offer? 12/13
Ok, I understand I'm NEVER getting an answer from @GMBScotOrg or @LabourRichard on any of these specific questions, but maybe some of the strikers could help me out? Good luck in your strike plight, whatever you expect the outcome to be 👍👍👍 13/13
