equality at work

[Rowgtfc72]

I work part time for a small company.There are two females in my dept.We are the lowest paid,no prospects of training and always being asked to do the cleaning when the line is down. In the company of a female manager the other lady asked two male managers in a tongue in cheek sense why she couldnt be trained up.The manager said because she was a female and we dont do that for females.Female manager has put in a discrimination complaint to the powers that be but would like us to back her up.Yes the company is sexist,Ive worked there 7 yrs and watched blokes in my dept made up and new staff brought in and immediately trained.I did this job before any of the blokes but when I became pregnant was immediately shuffled off elsewhere.Have been part time for five yrs now.My dilemma is do I complain too?Im worried they will hold my being part time against me and say its no longer viable for the company to employ me part time.We are not allowed to join a union and HR is no good.Do I have any rights?

What do you mean you're not allowed to join a union? Not all employers recognise unions, but they are certainly not allowed to stop you joining one if you want to. A union would probably be able to give you good advice about this sort of thing.

Your company does sound bloody awful, and you are well entitled to complain and seek redress if you have a grievance - but you haven't said what your actual complaint is? Are you worried they might take action against you if you back up this woman's complaint?

Union not recognised .Didnt realise we could still join one.Yes was wondering if they could play the part time card if I back the manager up.I am the only part time employee at the company and do appreciate it makes life difficult for them.Complaint is can I ask to be trained up and be put on an equal pay footing with the blokes I work with at the same time taking the company to task on the awful way they treat women that work there.As an aside I love my job,The equality situation has been the same for the seven years I have worked there its just no manager has blatently come out and said what he did.

Yes you have a protected legal right to join a union, and you don't have to tell your employer. Also, your employer isn't allowed to discriminate against you for joining one - www.gmb.org.uk/work_issues/union_rights.aspx

Your employer is absolutely not allowed to treat you unfavourably because you backed up the manager's complaint. If they did, you could take them to an employment tribunal.

For your own situation, you would have to put a formal request for training and equal pay to your employer. Then, if they turned you down on unreasonable grounds, you could again take them to an employment tribunal - giving evidence supporting your claim of sexism. I don't know if part-time working would be a factor. Would you consider getting some professional advice from a union or Citizens' Advice Bureau? Both are dead helpful for this sort of thing.

More info on tribunals here - www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ResolvingWorkplaceDisputes/Employmenttribunals/DG_10028122

Female manager told me today sexism complaint has gone to managing director.She has put in a formal request for me to be trained up but thinks I will be turned down on the grounds Im part time.However I think it should be on my training record I am already trained up and the lads that run the other line have always shared the job thus doing four hours each(not a written thing though) so will still argue my case.Am still concerned they could withdraw my part time hours and make me work full time but we will see!Thanks for all your help.