THE SNP has slammed Glasgow Labour leader Malcolm Cunning for his “weak” apology over his party’s role in the long-running equal pay scandal.
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken has warned that the final cost of Labour’s Equal Pay for Women Bill could run into billions of pounds, and that the cost of settlements for women discriminated against would remove £30 million per year for the next 30 years from the city’s budget. Subsequent phases of payments are due to begin later this year.
The row follows an ongoing equal pay dispute involving female city council employees that goes back to a 2017 Court of Session decision, ruling that both the council's payment protection scheme and its Workforce Pay and Benefits Review discriminated against women workers.
Aitken has challenged both Cunning and Labour leader Anas Sarwar to detail how their party would pay the discrimination bill.
Aitken said: “An admission of responsibility by Labour in Glasgow is long overdue, but this hollow apology days before an election will not cut it.
“The final bill for repaying the debt of Glasgow Labour’s equal pay scandal will be well in excess of £1 billion – the single biggest cut Glasgow has faced for decades.
“The SNP’s action to resolve this injustice is the right and proper thing to do – but we are all paying for Labour’s shameful legacy in Glasgow.
“Prior to the 2017 election, Labour said delivering equal pay wasn’t doable. However, right up until the decision was formally taken to stop legal action by the council, senior Labour people continued to defend their discriminatory pay system in the courts – including in the Labour group leader’s own party branch.
“Instead of weak and thoughtless apologies from Mr Cunning, he, alongside his party leader, should explain how they would pay this huge debt whilst protecting and delivering the key services Glaswegians expect."
