07/08/2009
1,200 low paid women - including cleaners, support workers and cooks - stand to gain thousands of pounds each after UNISON fought and won an equal pay claim against Bury Metropolitan Borough Council.
Following a six-week hearing, the council’s claims that the men were paid more because of a genuine material factor (GMF), rather than because of the workers’ sex, were rejected. The Manchester Tribunal has ruled that the women will now earn bonus payments of between 33.33 per cent and 50 per cent, in line with male comparators, including refuse collectors, labourers and gardeners.
The claimants were represented by Kate Stone of GCN (and leading counsel Brian Napier QC), instructed by UNISON's lawyers Thompsons Solicitors .
> 6/7/09 - Pay justice for women workers in equal pay win against council (UNISON press release)