Equal-ops hypocrisy

Fraud News
24 November 1999

The Ford Workers Combine, in the historical tradition of Ford workers, opposes all forms of racism and supports genuine equal opportunities for all. But hypocrisy is to be condemned. In 1998 in British-occupied Ireland the T&G was found guilty of unlawful discrimination, when Fiona Marshall, full time union officer won a case for sex discrimination. The union’s executive prevented her from fairly applying for a more senior job by fiddling the interview in favour of their chosen candidate. To quote the legal decision: “The Tribunal questions why this union, which is one of the biggest in the UK has not got a selection and recruitment policy. . . .a policy which is clear and sets out an objective marking system would be of great benefit to those interviewing members of council and to the union in general. It really is difficult to conceive that in 1998 this union still has not been able to agree either a selection and recruitment procedure which can be operated throughout the regions, or an equal opportunities policy. “The unanimous decision of the Tribunal is that the applicant was unlawfully discriminated against on the grounds of her sex, contrary to the provisions of Article 3 (1) (a) and Article 8 (1) (a) of the Sex Discrimination Northern Ireland Order 1976. Case reference number 01708/96/SD, 28/1.1998” The real story of the Irish discrimination is that the T&G wanted to promote the pro-British faction in the union against an Irish nationalist (not even republican). While lecturing others about equal opportunities, with some justice, it’s time to put the full-time union house in order.