News In Focus
7 December 2006
Council equal pay dispute heads for court
The long running equal pay saga involving Scotland's local authorities could be coming to a head. Union leaders yesterday announced their intention to sue Falkirk Council over its threat to dismiss employees who failed to sign new contracts.
The disputes date back to 1999 when councils and unions signed the "single status agreement". This aimed to sort out anomalies where women who have traditionally worked in low-paid jobs, such as cleaning and catering, do not get the overtime and bonus payments men in low-paid jobs, such as refuse collection, do receive.
Owing to the complexities of regrading staff and funding additional payments for female workers, only South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Moray Councils have so far reached final agreement with employees.
In Falkirk's case around 400 staff face a pay cut after jobs were re-evaluated, and have been told they will be dismissed if they fail to sign new contracts by the end of this month. Some of those facing reductions are women.
Unison claims that taking the dispute to the Court of Session appears to be the only way to solve the issue. The summons could be served by the end of the week.