Court of Session equal pay judgment

UNISON has welcomed a Court of Session judgment in favour of female members equal pay claims against Edinburgh City Council.

The Council had argued that, simply because they had different workplaces, women who worked in schools such as class room assistants, librarians or nursery nurses could not claim that they should be paid equally with male refuse collectors, road workers or gardeners.

Three senior judges have now decided that the women will be allowed to argue equal pay claims comparing themselves with male workers employed in different workplaces by the Council. The equal pay claims themselves will now be decided by Employment Tribunals.

A UNISON spokesperson said:

"This judgment is welcome. It widens the range of arguments we can use as we work to break down the barriers preventing women gaining equal treatment in the workplace."