Employment tribunal backs UNISON in equal pay case
Birmingham Employment Tribunal has today backed UNISON’s claim that thousands of women working for Birmingham City Council are entitled to earn the same pay as men working as gardeners, refuse collectors and grave diggers.
The women, who worked as cleaners and care assistants were backed by UNISON in successfully appealing against the council’s decision to exclude them from bonuses paid to men worth up to 160% of their basic pay.
In a 160 page judgement the Employment Tribunal stated that Birmingham’s defence failed.
Although UNISON’s legal advisers are studying the judgement it is clear that UNISON has won a major test case against the largest Local Authority in the country.
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, called on the Council to pay up:
“For too long Birmingham City Council has failed to live up to its responsibilities to pay these women workers fairly. This has cost council taxpayers’ huge amounts of money in legal fees. This money would have been better spent on providing vital local services, many of which are facing damaging cuts.”
