GCC Decision On Equal Pay Appeal Clears The Way For Justice To Be Delivered

GCC Decision On Equal Pay Appeal Clears The Way For Justice To Be Delivered

GMB Scotland has warmly welcomed a decision by Glasgow City Council to not seek leave to appeal the UK Supreme Court over its job evaluation scheme, clearing the way for negotiations to finally settle thousands of long standing equal pay claims.

An emergency meeting of the council’s Administration Committee this morning (Wednesday 17 January) unanimously supported proposals to resolve the city’s equal pay discrimination through a process of on-going negotiation and not litigation.

The decision ends the possibility of further legal wrangling and protracted delay at the taxpayer’s expense, which has already cost the city over £1.8 million in legal fees and an estimated £700,000 in staffing costs over the last decade.

GMB Scotland Organiser Hazel Nolan said: “This was an opportunity for the council to do the right thing by thousands of low-paid women with equal pay claims against their employer and GMB warmly welcomes this unanimous decision.

Susan Aitken has committed her administration to resolving this discrimination and now we can begin negotiations that deliver fair and just settlements for our women and their families.

Our city is run on the backs of these women, some of whom have died waiting for claims to be settled; they keep our kids fed, our schools clean and they care for our elderly and most vulnerable.

This is only the start of the process but this decision clears the way and perhaps for the first time, our women can be optimistic that pay justice is within reach.”

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Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Hazel Nolan on 07921 885786 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.