Barnet Council faces a claim for equal pay worth ‘tens and millions’

GMB, the union representing women in London, has announced that 400 women will join a claim for equal pay against Barnet Council.

Women who are school support staff for the borough argue that there is a structural difference in pay between roles that are dominated by women and those filled by men. This would be the very first claim for equal pay in a London Council.

The union that supports the women’s claim points out that Barnet refuse staff (predominantly male) receives a full-day’s salary, even if their work is completed early.

Some refuse workers were also paid a bonus for retaining staff, but school support staff was not. This is despite the fact that schools are struggling to retain staff.

GMB alleges that Barnet Council’s head of HR has refused to meet the union since the beginning of January and that women have not been able to resolve the dispute through negotiation.

Beverley G. Gunning, GMB Barnet Branch Secretary, said that it was shameful to have to take Barnet Council into court to force them to do the right thing. But we will fight to get the money owed to our members after years of gender-based pay discrimination.

The council has a number of low-paid staff who perform vital work in schools.

The council should apologize unreservedly to these loyal and dedicated workers.

The longer it takes for this claim to be settled, the bigger the settlement. Barnet Council has run out of time.”

GMB represented women workers in a similar dispute at Brighton & Hove City Council.

Barnet Council’s spokesperson said: “Barnet Council is very serious about its equalities and pay responsibilities. We welcome union colleagues to our meetings.

“GMB has yet to specify which staff at which grades and in which schools it believes have a right. GMB also failed to recognize that while the staff of maintained schools is legally employed by councils, each school has its own recruitment policies, HR records and recruitment and retention strategies.

Personnel Today offers employee relations opportunities

Browse Employee Relations Jobs