End in sight to council equal pay claims saga
The long- running saga of equal pay claims within North Lanarkshire Council will soon be over after the local authority reached agreement with the GMB union.
Hundreds of women, including home care workers, cleaners and janitors, have been affected in the fight for equal pay over the last few years.
However, that fight is set to be won as the union announced that it had made “a significant breakthrough” in a long-running equal pay claims dispute with the council.
A union source confirmed to the Wishaw Press that the biggest winners of the pay claim are likely to be home care workers with improved offers of thousands of pounds.
GMB Scotland organiser Hazel Nolan said: “A recent change in leadership at the council prompted fresh negotiations and improved settlement offers subsequently followed, meaning GMB Scotland members can now look forward to significant equal pay awards.
“The new council leadership immediately recognised the need to resolve this inequality and their willingness to work with GMB Scotland in negotiating a proper settlement means our members are at last getting justice.
“Our ‘ Equal Pay Now!’ campaign was organised after our members, including home care workers, cleaners and janitors, were forced into a protracted dispute with NLC’s previous leadership over pay discrimination in comparison with their male counterparts.”
Workers and GMB officials gathered outside the council’s HQ in Motherwell to protest against their employer in April.
However, following the protest, at the full council meeting, North Lanarkshire Leader Jim Logue pledged to meet union leaders to find a solution to the saga which has cost the council an estimated £100million.
In a statement this week, Councillor Logue said: “I have made it clear since becoming Council Leader that we will settle equal pay claims where these are justified.
“I am pleased to say this agreement in principle, which is subject to further discussion, with the GMB union, is a positive step towards that aim.
“This is a major milestone which I hope will mark a departure from the confrontations of the past.
“We have negotiated in a sensible and constructive manner with the GMB and its legal advisers to reach agreement.
“If anything, this shows how quickly justified settlements can be reached through willingness to sit down and talk.
“This council has paid around £100million in equal pay claims since they began and we want to resolve this issue.”