More than 100 women members of UNISON in West Lothian are celebrating a historic equal pay victory.
They are among nearly 2000 members in Scotland who can expect to share in an estimated nearly £12 million in compensation after a UK Supreme Court judgment yesterday (26 June).
The success of 251 women from Dumfries and Galloway against their council in the landmark decision paves the way for our members to win their equal pay compensation from West Lothian Council.
The seven-year North v Dumfries & Galloway case has finally demolished the long-running defence by Scottish councils of paying men discriminatory bonuses that are denied to women....
Having conceded that council bonuses were discriminatory, more than 20 Scottish councils joined Dumfries in arguing that women should only get equal pay compensation if they worked at the same location as their male comparators.
UNISON had appealed after the Court of Session said the 251 classroom assistants, support for learning assistants and nursery nurses in Dumfries were not able to compare themselves with groundsmen, refuse collectors and drivers and leisure attendants who received bonuses, but were based at depots, not in the women’s schools.
The judgment overturns that decision, saying that UK equal pay law which allows a woman to compare herself with a man “in the same employment” does apply, even though the women worked at different ‘establishments’.
Thursday 27 June 2013
Wednesday 26 June 2013
UNISON wins historic equal pay case worth millions of pounds for members
#EqualPay
Nearly two thousand women members of UNISON are celebrating a historic equal pay victory today.
They have finally demolished the long-running defence by Scottish councils of paying men discriminatory bonuses that are denied to women.
Today’s judgment overturns that decision, saying that UK equal pay law which allows a woman to compare herself with a man “in the same employment” does apply, even though the women worked at different ‘establishments’.
Dumfries support for learning assistant Elaine North, one of the 251 appellants, said: “This has been a very long fight but we knew all along that we should be able to compare our work with the men, who sometimes did work in schools, but were not based there like us.
“We have won what is rightfully ours and 251 women employed by Dumfries & Galloway Council will be celebrating tonight. UNISON has been fantastic and we now hope the women employed by other councils who have been waiting for this decision can proceed with their cases.”
UNISON Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said: “This is a landmark case in equal pay across the UK. UNISON’s determination to fight for our members has successfully defended the intentions of the Equal Pay Act. Losing this would have been a serious setback for the Act itself.
Crucially, the decision also opens the way for thousands of workers in arms length companies to compare pay rates between different employers if the council has the overriding ability to control how these subsidiaries operate.
Dave Prentis UNISON General Secretary, said: “I am delighted that the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of our women members. It is a shame, though, that they have had to go through this process and endure a seven-year wait, just to get equal pay.
“Dumfries and Galloway Council should take immediate steps to correct their pay and I urge other councils to follow suit. We have nearly 2,000 cases on hold, waiting for this judgment.
“Employers should be in no doubt that this union will continue to pursue cases until all women are treated equally. There are far too many who are still discriminated against and far too many employers who are using every single legal argument and loophole to dodge their obligations under equal pay law.”
“Employers should be in no doubt that this union will continue to pursue cases until all women are treated equally. There are far too many who are still discriminated against and far too many employers who are using every single legal argument and loophole to dodge their obligations under equal pay law.”
Dumfries support for learning assistant Elaine North, one of the 251 appellants, said: “This has been a very long fight but we knew all along that we should be able to compare our work with the men, who sometimes did work in schools, but were not based there like us.
“We have won what is rightfully ours and 251 women employed by Dumfries & Galloway Council will be celebrating tonight. UNISON has been fantastic and we now hope the women employed by other councils who have been waiting for this decision can proceed with their cases.”
UNISON Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said: “This is a landmark case in equal pay across the UK. UNISON’s determination to fight for our members has successfully defended the intentions of the Equal Pay Act. Losing this would have been a serious setback for the Act itself.
“It is a disgrace that it is taking so long for women to get equal pay with men and that councils have fought to defend discriminatory practice in this way.
“More than 40 years after the Equal Pay Act, and after 30 years of equal value claims and 20 years after Scottish local authorities and trade unions reached agreement on implementing equal pay, there is finally no hiding place.
“The unions, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government have been telling council leaders to get this sorted out.
“We are proud that it was UNISON alone who got the final answer from the Supreme Court. It is time for councils to stump up and give our members what is due to them.”
Tuesday 25 June 2013
#YesToFairPay!
Fair Pay Day of Action for local government workers
Unions today (Tuesday) launched a Fair Pay Day supporting Scottish local government workers as they prepare to vote on strike action.Trade unionists on the STUC Austerity Uncovered tour asked why council workers are being offered a ‘measly’ 1% pay rise when ‘fat cats’* on the Sunday Times Rich List saw their wealth soar by £116 billion in the last three years.
UNISON branches across Scotland are holding workplace events and lobbying councillors today as they campaign for a Yes vote in the strike ballot, which opens next week.
And in Dundee the Austerity Uncovered anti-cuts ‘battle bus’ continues its tour of local communities hit hard by the UK Coalition Government attacks on jobs, pay and benefits that are hitting the most vulnerable so hard.
Dougie Black, Regional Organiser, said: “Local government workers are struggling to make ends meet after the value of their pay has gone down nearly 13% in three years, while their daily bills go up and up.
“What communities need is workers spending money locally. We know that council workers do that, so giving them a Living Wage, with annual increases, and a fair pay rise, will boost local economies.”
Dave Moxham, STUC Deputy General Secretary, will speak at the Fair Pay day event in Dundee at lunchtime. He said: “Just a few days into the Austerity Uncovered tour, STUC has confirmed through what people tell us that, along with unemployment, low pay is a major cause of suffering.
“Local government workers have tightened their belts following serial real terms pay cuts and many can go no further with debts mounting. Council tax freezes, which most benefit those in big houses, are squeezing council budgets and causing cuts in services and workers’ pay.”
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/mayjun/2506.htm
Thursday 20 June 2013
Support The #YestoFairPay Campaign!
Tuesday 4 June 2013
Union Announces Scotland Wide Strike Ballot Of Council Staff
Local government workers across Scotland are being balloted on strike action, after rejecting a 1% pay offer.
UNISON, the public services union, will ballot 75,000 members working for Scotland’s 32 local authorities.
Stephanie Herd, Chair of UNISON’s Local Government Committee, said: “Members are angry about a miserly 1% offer, following two years of a pay freeze.
“The year before that they only received 0.65%. Over this period the value of their pay has gone down by nearly 13%, while the cost of food and heating has soared.
“Council staff work hard delivering quality public services. They are overstretched after more than 34,500 local government jobs have gone. They are underpaid, and they see the wealthiest people in this country getting ever richer.
“Our members deserve fair pay and we believe they will vote yes for strike action to put pressure on the employers to improve the offer.”
UNISON is calling for a fair pay rise and for COSLA to commit to an annual increase in the Scottish Local Government Living Wage of £7.50 per hour. The current offer from employers includes the Living Wage, which the unions have campaigned for, but no annual uplift.
Dougie Black, UNISON lead negotiator in local government, said: “We tried to get the employers back round the table for talks after members voted to reject the offer, but the employers refused.
“It is clear that our members do not believe 1% is fair. They also lost out because they did not receive the £250 increase for the lowest paid NHS and civil service staff in the last two years, which was supposed to soften the blow of a pay freeze.”
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/mayjun/0406.htm
UNISON, the public services union, will ballot 75,000 members working for Scotland’s 32 local authorities.
Stephanie Herd, Chair of UNISON’s Local Government Committee, said: “Members are angry about a miserly 1% offer, following two years of a pay freeze.
“The year before that they only received 0.65%. Over this period the value of their pay has gone down by nearly 13%, while the cost of food and heating has soared.
“Council staff work hard delivering quality public services. They are overstretched after more than 34,500 local government jobs have gone. They are underpaid, and they see the wealthiest people in this country getting ever richer.
“Our members deserve fair pay and we believe they will vote yes for strike action to put pressure on the employers to improve the offer.”
UNISON is calling for a fair pay rise and for COSLA to commit to an annual increase in the Scottish Local Government Living Wage of £7.50 per hour. The current offer from employers includes the Living Wage, which the unions have campaigned for, but no annual uplift.
Dougie Black, UNISON lead negotiator in local government, said: “We tried to get the employers back round the table for talks after members voted to reject the offer, but the employers refused.
“It is clear that our members do not believe 1% is fair. They also lost out because they did not receive the £250 increase for the lowest paid NHS and civil service staff in the last two years, which was supposed to soften the blow of a pay freeze.”
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/mayjun/0406.htm
Free learning for new members
UNISON is offering all new members who join in May or June 2013 free one day “taster” learning workshops to help you cope with the challenges life throws at you either at work or in your daily life.
We can help you get to grips with new technology – from using the internet on your smart phone to making the most of your office email.
We’ll tell you more about your union, UNISON, how you access our help and support and how the union can support you in the workplace.
And it’s all FREE.
>>> http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/21518.pdf
We can help you get to grips with new technology – from using the internet on your smart phone to making the most of your office email.
We’ll tell you more about your union, UNISON, how you access our help and support and how the union can support you in the workplace.
And it’s all FREE.
>>> http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/21518.pdf
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