GMB Starts Legal Proceedings Against Fife Council Over Outstanding Equal Pay Awards

GMB Starts Legal Proceedings Against Fife Council Over Outstanding Equal Pay Awards

GMB Scotland has today (Monday 12 February) notified Fife Council leaders that it will start fresh legal proceedings against the local authority over the non-payment of equal pay settlements for over sixty workers.

Trade union representatives and their legal affiliates have been pressing officials for months over the reasons for the failure to pay-out claims as part of the second wave of equal pay in Fife Council, many of which were awarded over two years ago.

However, no confirmation has been forthcoming from council officials meaning the claimants, mainly local home carers, cleaners and catering staff, are no nearer to receiving their compensation for years of inequality.

To date Fife Council has paid out an estimated £80 million in equal pay settlements to employees past and present.

GMB Scotland Organiser Helen Meldrum said: “For reasons which Fife Council cannot seem to explain to us, over sixty women are still waiting on the award of their equal pay settlement.

This is nearly two years after the finalisation of the second wave claims against Fife Council and we have been left with little choice but to reclaim what is owed to our members through the courts.

In all likelihood the monies due to our members will amount to a few hundred thousand pounds; a drop in the ocean compared to the £80 million paid out in equal pay settlements by the council.

These women take care of our elderly and vulnerable, keep our kids’ fed and their schools clean and it is absolutely shameful that after decades of discrimination, council bosses are still stalling on the delivery of pay justice.”

ENDS

Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Helen Meldrum on 07958 156838 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.