Pay differentials spark strike threat

18 October 2006

Strikes could follow plans in Birmingham to level pay out across the city, based on skills and expertise, after a leaked report showed men carrying out unskilled highways maintenance jobs were earning significantly more than women in other low-skilled council roles.
Workers are now facing a crackdown on extra payments, after it was discovered some were more than doubling their salaries.
Birmingham City Council admitted some workers with certain responsibilities, including painting lines on roads, were earning up to £53,000 a year.
However, the strong move by cabinet member for equalities and human resources, Alan Rudge, has been met with an angry response from the GMB.
The council faces a backlash both from workers threatened with losing the bonus payments and other staff in roles traditionally held by women who have not been eligible for bonus payments, a fact they claim is illegal under sex discrimination laws. Roger Jenkins, GMB senior organiser for public services, said the union wanted level pay for employees doing similar jobs. ‘We are aggressively litigating for women to achieve equal pay,’ he said.
‘Birmingham is part of the GMB national campaign to achieve equal pay for women in local government.
‘The city council has withheld millions of pounds from its women staff, and we are determined to get them justice.’
A series of mass meetings will be held this week, during which the views of the 49,000-strong council workforce will be measured, with possible strike action to follow if there was support.
Councillor Rudge reiterated this week his promise to level out pay across the authority, which he blames on the previous administration, which agreed large bonus payouts for highways staff some 15 years ago.
The council could also faces possible sex discrimination action as the bonuses were only available to jobs in mostly male-dominated areas, and not domestic and caring professions, predominately carried out by women.

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