GMB members blast union reps over equal pay settlements

Members of the GMB trade union have slammed their representatives over their handling of a long-running equal pay dispute at North Lanarkshire Council.
North Lanarkshire Council Crest. It's Latin logo "Pro Bono Publico" translates "For the Greater Good of the Public."North Lanarkshire Council Crest. It's Latin logo "Pro Bono Publico" translates "For the Greater Good of the Public."
North Lanarkshire Council Crest. It's Latin logo "Pro Bono Publico" translates "For the Greater Good of the Public."

Thousands of council staff, mainly women in lower-paid jobs, have received payments from NLC following extensive negotiations with trade unions.

However the GMB negotiators have come under fire from their own members after withdrawing from group talks involving other unions whose members have now received payments. Had GMB remained on board around 500 of its members would now share an estimated £2.5m.

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One low-paid council employee described the situation as a “shambles”.

Council HQ in Motherwell.Council HQ in Motherwell.
Council HQ in Motherwell.

The GMB member said: “I am just finding out how negligent our union has been over our claim.

“We have had no correspondence with this union for years and no offers as yet, but are working with people who have been paid out from other unions. Morale is at an all time low.

“We feel betrayed by the GMB and stand to lose a lot of money, money we feel we have worked for.”

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A fellow member added: “GMB are a joke. As a member I’m out to lose a lot of money with their so called deal.

“I feel very betrayed by them. We all do the same job and we all should get the same.

“I am one of the ones who stupidly settled on the first wave and people I know were paid three times what I got. That’s not equality.”

Mark Irvine, who represented workers on behalf of Action4Equality Scotland, said: “I am not surprised that people are very angry.

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“The GMB has let its members down by adopting a completely different stance to everyone else.”

Alex McLuckie, senior organiser for GMB, said: “We are still in discussions and until this is resolved we are not prepared to make any comment.”