Avoca apology as two female cafe workers win equal pay battle
TWO female workers at a Belfast cafe who were earning less than a male co-worker have won an equal pay claim.
Paulina Paczkowska and Agnieszka Anna Golygowska both worked as floor staff and baristas in the Avoca Cafe.
While they had been doing the same work as a male colleague since May 2013, they had always received a significantly lower rate of pay.
By 2015, Paulina was earning £6.79 per hour and Agnieszka £6.98 per hour, while their male colleague was earning £8.46.
Both women took grievances within the company, Avoca Handweavers (NI) Ltd, in 2015, citing the disparity between their pay and that of their male colleague.
When these grievances were dismissed, they lodged claims with an Industrial Tribunal and their trade union, SIPTU, referred them to the Equality Commission for help.
Avoca conceded that it did not have a structured pay scheme within the business. The firm also admitted that the three employees were all doing similar work and accepted that there was a disparity in pay between the man and the women, but claimed that material factors other than the sex of the staff werethereasonforthedisparity.
The tribunal ruled that the factors cited by Avoca could not explain the difference in pay rates.
The tribunal stated: “There was not any evidence from 2013 onwards that there was a risk that [the male staff member] would leave, or that the respondent was having difficulties retaining strong baristas, or that the claimants were not competent baristas, or that the respondent could not afford to pay the complainants a comparable rate of pay.”
The tribunal accordingly ruled that the two women had succeeded in their claim and are entitled to equal pay to that paid to their male colleague from May 2013.
Equality Commission chief executive Evelyn Collins said the case highlighted the clear legal protection afforded by the law.
Responding to the tribunal’s finding, Avoca said: “Avoca is committed to fair and equal pay practices and to equal opportunities for all our employees.
“We believed we were operating in a fair and proper way, but we understand and accept the findings of the Tribunal.
“We will take steps to rectify Paulina and Agnieszka’s pay as quickly as possible and we apologise to them that we did not get it right in this instance.”