Date: Fri 26 October 2012
UNISON wins Edinburgh
equal pay deal
Note for members with claims: As is
the nature of legal settlements, we cannot give
details
publicly
and each settlement
for each individual will be different based on
the difference between the male comparator, the
length of time and several other factors. This
is a compensation offer that will be put to
you by Thompsons and the Council. The branch does
not have details of this and any queries need to
go to Thompsons Solicitors.
UNISON has won an equal pay deal for thousands
of council staff in Edinburgh. The union today
agreed a settlement with the City of Edinburgh
Council after a long-running battle to secure
equal pay claims by up to three thousand workers.
John Stevenson, President of Edinburgh UNISON
branch said:
“
We welcome the settlement of these long standing
equal pay claims - and we are delighted that many
of our members will soon start receiving their
compensation. Equal pay for work of equal value
is an important principle – but we aim to
ensure it happens in practice too.”
The majority of equal pay claims brought by UNISON
in Edinburgh were on behalf of women administrative
and school-based staff, who argued that their work
was of equal value to male manual workers in receipt
of bonus payments. The Court of Session agreed
with that case and the council has withdrawn an
appeal to the Supreme Court as part of the settlement
with UNISON.
The deal covers the period from up to five years
before the date of claim.
A council spokesperson described the settlement
as “an excellent outcome for these employees” and
said it reflected a commitment to partnership working
from all sides.
Council Leader Andrew Burns said the ruling coalition
group was “absolutely delighted” that
the equal pay claims had been resolved before the
end of the year.
ENDS
Notes for editors
1. Joint statement on Equal Pay settlement by
UNISON and City of Edinburgh Council
Friday 26 October 2012
The City of Edinburgh Council and the trade union
UNISON, are pleased to announce that terms have
been agreed to settle the outstanding equal pay
claims of former APT& C employees lodged by
UNISON on behalf of their members.
UNISON have confirmed that these terms will be
recommended to their members and that this will
bring this long-running dispute to an end.
The agreed settlement terms will take a number
of months to implement fully and both the Council
and UNISON are calling upon those affected to remain
patient whilst arrangements are put in place. Payments
will commence in the next couple of weeks and will
be staggered over the coming three months.
A council spokesperson said: “This is an
excellent outcome for these employees and reflects
a commitment from Councillors, Officers and trade
union representatives to partnership working.”
Leader of the Council, Andrew Burns, said “the
Capital Coalition had a firm aim to resolve these
claims before the end of the year and we are absolutely
delighted to report that this has been achieved.”
John Stevenson, President of City of Edinburgh
UNISON branch said: "We welcome the settlement
of these long standing equal pay claims - and we
are delighted that many of our members will soon
start receiving their compensation."
2. Background to the Edinburgh equal pay claims
(UNISON Scotland)
The equal pay claims were brought mainly by administrative
staff and school-based staff, who were claiming
that their work was of equal value to male manual
workers who received a bonus.
The Council claimed that the female employees
could not make this comparison so the claims were
invalid. The UNISON claimants won the point at
the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Appeal
Tribunal and the Court of Session.
The Council had appealed to the Supreme Court,
but that appeal will now be withdrawn as part of
the settlement agreement.
The settlement will cover the period from up to
5 years before the date of claim.