Council’s equal pay appeal rejected

Hundreds of female Bury Council workers are set to receive compensation after an equal pay case.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council has now lost an appeal against a Tribunal ruling that women were entitled to the same bonuses as men in similar low-paid jobs.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal’s decision confirms that over 900 mainly low-paid women, such as carers, catering assistants, cooks, cleaners, domestic assistants, school crossing patrol attendants and home carers, are entitled to compensation for the years they were paid less than male council workers doing comparable jobs.

Unison, the union representing the women, said they could now be in line for the equivalent of up to four years' back pay. The Council said the decision could have significant 'ramifications'.

The original case concerned 1,400 claimants but over 600 settled out of court.

Steve Stott, UNISON Regional Manager, said:

“We are satisfied this judgment now paves the way for the Council to pay all those affected staff the money they are legally entitled to. We will now be pushing the Council to apply for capitalisation funds, which will allow them to spread the cost of the equal pay settlements over a longer period. Better managed councils resolved most of their past equal pay problems long before the present crisis.”

A council spokesman said:

"We have received the judgment from the Employment Appeals Tribunal which could have major ramifications, not least for the taxpayers of Bury.

"As such, we will study the judgment closely with our legal advisors and decide what action to take.

"Our decision to appeal was not taken lightly, but followed leading counsel's advice and because we believed our case was legitimate and strong.

"The council has a duty to safeguard taxpayers' money, a responsibility it takes seriously at all times. We faced claims from more than 1,400 people which, if upheld, could have cost the council – and local taxpayers – many millions of pounds.

"It was always our argument that we had paid both men and women fairly for the jobs they were doing, and that any bonus payments in the past were legitimate and due to other factors, not the employee's sex."