Taylor Murray
HOME care workers from Renfrewshire joined colleagues from two other council areas to stage a protest as part of a pay dispute.
The industrial action took place at George Square, in Glasgow, where Renfrewshire staff met up with those from local authorities in Falkirk and West Dunbartonshire.
Fiona O’Brien, who is a home care worker in Renfrewshire and a representative of the GMB trade union, said walkouts have been taking place due to an “unfair” job evaluation process.
She added that staff are doing jobs that are “way above their pay grade.
“The job has always been quite complex,” said Ms O’Brien.
“People with complex needs, such as the elderly, are vulnerable.
“We’re expected to administer medication, which is way above the pay grade that we are at. We really shouldn’t be doing that.
“We are basically fighting for fair pay based on an unfair job evaluation process.
“Our authority is paying us way less than other local authorities across Scotland.
“For far too long we have been unappreciated, undervalued and underpaid.
“It’s time to make a change.” Officials at GMB Scotland have said there are a number of women working in the public sector whose roles may have been undervalued when compared with similar work done by male colleagues.
The union has also warned that higher pay grades could be approved retrospectively, with workers claiming up to five years’ worth of back pay – and effectively bankrupting some councils.
Louise Gilmour, Scottish secretary of the GMB, said that, if councils claim essential services will be lost because of payouts to staff, this would be an attempt to “guilt” women affected by the issue into believing they are being “greedy.”
She added: “We know local authorities are struggling to make ends meet and we know why but to suggest women workers are somehow making things worse by asking for money they are owed – and, in many cases, have been owed for years – is as dishonest as it is disgraceful.
“To blame equal pay claims instead of the system for pay discrimination that has prevailed in our councils is scapegoating workers who are only asking for what they are owed.
“It is an attempt to guilt women into believing they are being greedy and risking men’s jobs by simply asking for what they are due and have been due for years and years.
“The cost of settling equal pay issues is looming over Scotland’s local councils but this is not about women – it is about fairness and has been too long coming.”
A spokesperson for the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership said negotiations with the GMB, Unison and Unite over a pay deal are continuing.
“A further offer was presented to all three trade unions and Unison and Unite have paused industrial action as they consider this renewed offer,” added the spokesperson.
“Unfortunately, GMB are continuing with industrial action following a consultative ballot with their members.”