"Power to the People" as public sector workers demand the money councils owe them

From the 6th April all public sector employees are entitled to demand that their employer carries out an Equal Pay assessment and pay the back pay owed to them. It is time for the lowest paid to stand up and demand their rights.

The Equality Act 2007 came into force on the 6th April 2007. The Act imposes a positive duty upon all public bodies to promote equality. This includes making workplace assessments of any inequality in pay and to eliminate it.

Two thirds of councils admit that they have not carried out this assesment despite agreeing to do so 10 years ago. Many are saying they may get round to it in 2008 or even 2009.

This is simply unnaceptable and is offensive to all of the women who have already suffered the indignity of being paid 33% less than their male counterparts for over a decade.

The local authorities are often pleading poverty and lashing out at anyone who makes a claim, branding them compensation culture parasites. This is hypocrtical nonsense. These women are entitled to be paid and it is unacceptable to seek to avoid payment. The local authorities should be lobbying central government to help to pay these women. The country can apparently afford an Olympic bid costing over £12bn but cannot afford Equality. How long can this scandal continue before the political elite stand up and do the honourable thing.

In the affected areas not one Councillor, MP, Political Party or Local Authority can honestly stand by their so called Equal Opportunities policy. They all pay lip service to equality but none of them have the integrity to stand up and campaign for the women, many of whom are owed many thousands of pounds.

All of these bodies should immediately amend their  Equal Opps policies to read "Except for Equal Pay, we are an Equal opportunities employer".

If the establishment will not campaign for these women then they will have to do it themselves. From the 6th April any affected employee can drag their employer to court and force them to carry out the Equal Pay Assesments. Affected employees have gained the right to judicially review the public bodies and many will now do so. At last the power is with the people and they will ultimately succeed. Those campaigning to avoid payment will be exposed and should be ashamed of themselves.

Where are the Unions in all this ? They have taken their monthly subscription, paid it to the Labour Party, feathered their own nests and run for the hills. Shame on them.

Low paid women across the country can now help each other by standing up to their employer. There is no defence to the claims and many authorities admit the money is owed. Most of these have set aside funds to pay but only if a claim is brought. Many others are offering 50% of what is owed. Only a handful have met their obligations and dealt with these claims in a way which a decent society would expect.

Women should now join together and fight for their and their families right to enjoy a fair wage for a fair days work.

WE WONT COMPROMISE - GIVE US OUR RISE !

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