Glasgow approves equal pay deal

Glasgow City Council has approved an historic equal pay deal costing at least £500 million.

The deal follows an agreement reached last month between the council and the equal pay claimant group represented by Action4Equality, UNISON, GMB and UNITE.

Workers are expected to receive details of their individual entitlements over the next few months and compensation paid from this summer. A financial strategy designed to fund the settlement – with some of the city’s property assets to be used to unlock loans was also approved in a meeting yesterday.

The equal pay case involves around 14,000 equal pay claims and has been going on for over 10 years. Glasgow council introduced a new pay and grading scheme in 2006, which aimed to put an end to pay inequality based on gender. However, it included protections lasting three years for bonuses paid to men.

Council leader Susan Aitken said: “I’m delighted to have won backing for a deal that finally delivers pay justice for thousands of women in our workforce…I want to thank the women for their determination; their dedication to the city and its people, and for trusting me to deliver what they have always deserved.”

The settlement will be funded by the use property assets to secure loans, including the refinancing of a 2010 loan and the sale of a significant further portfolio of operational buildings which will be leased back at a commercial rate.

Aitken said: “I’ve always been clear that, although settling equal pay has been about delivering justice for thousands of the women in our workforce, meeting the substantial cost of doing that must be fair for citizens.

“Releasing the potential of our property, while keeping it in the city’s ownership, protects services and the future of these valued assets.”

The council also agreed yesterday to fund an additional 300 hours of free nursery provision for three and four year olds to parents earning up to £45,000, bringing their entitlement up to 900 hours a year.  Previously the household earning threshold was  £30,000. The council says it is working towards rolling out the Scottish Government’s national commitment of  1,140 hours fully funded early learning expansion plans for three and four year olds and eligible two year olds by August 2020.

• Vote  
• 0
• 0
• You already voted!