Council still not paying staff equal pay rates

Demonstrators demanding equal pay will protest outside Glasgow City Chambers today backed by the country’s biggest public services union.

The protest, at 12.30pm, coincides with the last meeting of Glasgow City Council before the summer break and follows a meeting of the city admin committee which is discussing the future of the current pay system.

Unison members who work in education will serve Glasgow City Council a school report card on equal pay highlighting the need to do better.

Carol Ball, Unison branch chairperson and education convenor, said: “Many of our members with equal pay claims work in education and those members will be demonstrating with Unison today.

"It has been six months since the decision was taken not to appeal the court’s decision on equal pay, Glasgow City Council could and should do better.

“It’s time school staff and others at the council were shown the dignity and respect that pay equality represents, that’s a valuable lesson to share with the young people of our city, that equality and respect extends to paying employees equally whatever job they work in.”

The Court of Session ruled last year on Glasgow City Council’s pay system and current job evaluation scheme saying the council does not have a valid pay system.

Many workers in the council and its arm’s length external organisations (ALEOs) have been discriminated against since 2006 when the workforce pay and benefits review (WPBR) was implemented. Most of these workers are low paid women, according to Unison.