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1,200 women staff can take council to cleaners

EXCLUSIVE

LOW-PAID women workers across the borough are set to take Stockport Council to the cleaners with a compensation bill that could run into tens of millions.

At least 1,200 female staff - including cleaners, dinner ladies and lollipop ladies - are owed the money as a result of sex discrimination after the council acknowledged male colleagues in similar jobs were being paid more.

And with the addition of legal fees from possible tribunals - which the council would have to pick up - the total cost could rise still further.

A similar case in Cumbria in March last year culminated in a claim by trade union Unison for up to £300 million for 1,500 health workers. Women affected could receive between £35,000 and £200,000 each following an eight-year legal battle.

In the wake of the revelation a Stockport Council spokesman confirmed the authority has been forced to lobby government for additional financial support.

Councillor Peter Scott, the leader of the Labour group on Stockport Council, said: "I think it will run into millions of pounds, but if litigation is pursued and it were to run into tens of millions of pounds, it would be very difficult.

"You could have a situation where council staff were being made redundant just to pay the compensation, which is quite ridiculous.

"As councillors we have known for a long time this situation was coming and one would expect that the ruling group in Stockport has put money aside to pay for these claims - we shall certainly be asking them what money has been put to one side."

The women workers missed out on bonuses enjoyed in male-dominated posts, despite being on similar pay grades. Productivity bonuses were worth up to 50 per cent on top of their salary.

Labour's councillor Sheila Bailey said implications on the scale of Cumbria would be unthinkable.

"If it was on the same scale as Cumbria it would have the potential to bankrupt the council, although you can't, as a council has a statutory duty to provide services," she said.

"There is no point staff pursuing a course of action which would end up forcing the council to make lay offs. While I agree women are entitled to be paid properly, it could end up where they get their compensation and then lose their jobs.

"It is a situation which requires a willingness on all sides to reach a solution - therefore the solution has not got to be worse than the problem."

However, Sue Glithero, the Unison representative on the council, said her union was opposed to women taking settlements from the local authority. Instead she is preparing to take individual and/or mass legal action to get proper compensation for the low paid staff.

She explained: "It is hard to say how much is owed, but it is likely to run into millions. Unison is opposed to deals with the council because people are entitled to be fully compensated and these offers are likely to be lower than an individual might get by going through an industrial tribunal."

Ms Glithero said meetings would be held between workers, the council and ACAS early next year.

She added: "It is up to individuals to decide whether they are prepared to accept the money offered.

"Those people who opt to take their cases for compensation to an industrial tribunal will be supported by us. However, the downside is it might take a long time to sort out compensation."

A Stockport Council spokesman said it was an issue 90 per cent of local authorities are looking at.

He said: "We are reviewing our pay and grading structure to address any potential inequalities in the former system.

"The potential amount each employee may receive is still being calculated. Therefore, the council is not at the stage where it can speculate as to what the overall cost will be.

"Relevant employees, who left within six months of the date from which the authority recognises any past inequalities, may be eligible.

"We have sent out a letter to around 1,200 employees potentially affected. However, so far, no claims have been brought.

The council welcomes the fact that we are looking to develop a means of making sure all employees are treated equally and fairly"

• IF you think you are affected by unequal pay at the council, you can contact the Unison representative on 474 3007.

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