WELCOME FOR COMMITTEE’S CLEAR STATEMENT ON EQUAL PAY.

WELCOME FOR COMMITTEE’S CLEAR STATEMENT ON EQUAL PAY.

PAST DELAYS ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE

Central Scotland SNP MSP John Wilson – a member of the Local Government and Communities Committee – has welcomed the findings of the Committee’s report into equal pay and the emphatic call for local authorities, trade unions and lawyers to settle the issue.

Mr Wilson, formerly a director of the Scottish Low Pay Unit, said it was unacceptable that so many years had been wasted since 1999 when the Single Status agreement between local authorities and unions was first made.

Commenting Mr Wilson said:

“At last we are seeing an emphatic call from Parliament for this long running issue to be settled. It has gone on to long and it is unbelievable that Labour could not bring this to conclusion over the 8 years from 1999 when they dominated COSLA.

“In this time of economic difficulties and threatened cuts in public spending by the Westminster labour Government it is even more important that council employees have confidence in the pay structures of local councils.

“This report is very welcome for its emphatic call for all parties to get around the table and sort out this issue once and for all. Local government employees deserve nothing less.”