Equal Pay

I've had a number of enquiries from people who have been approached by one of the trade unions - with a belated offer to pursue an equal pay claim. 

Now some of the folks who have contacted me are already union members - some have left the  union and are being tempted to re-join - while others have never been union members in the first place.

My advice to people is to ask the trade unions to explain clearly - what's on offer.

Is the whole thing just a recruitment exercise - given that the recent Edinburgh settlement has put equal pay back in the news again.

If not, then what's really in it for the people concerned - because it appears to be a case of far too little far to late?

I can't say for sure without knowing all the details - but here's what I said in response to one recent enquiry.

Dear M

Good luck with your if you decide to take things forward

What the trade unions are probably not telling you is that they failed to advise members properly in the first place - about their rights to equal pay more than 10 years ago.

By sending you information now the unions are essentially closing the stable door long after the horse has bolted.

Because any claim registered now will be worth much less than it was than if you had registered a claim back in 2005/06 - since an equal pay claim can only go only back in time for five years maximum.

So instead of having an equal pay claim which goes all the way back until the year 2000 - a claim registered now will go back to 2007 at the very best.

You will have lost the intervening 7 years if the trade unions' gave people poor advice - or just left the workforce in the dark.

The employer will also have brought in changes to the way employees are now paid - under a new job evaluation scheme - which may well dilute the value of any equal pay claim registered now, so late in the day.

I wonder if the union will offer to make good any financial loss your may have suffered as a result - if you've been a union member all this time?

I would certainly ask them to do so and I would also ask the union:

1 What is the value of a potential claim in 2012?
2 How are the figures calculated and broken down?
2 How do they justify letting people down all these years?

If you get some straight answers to these questions, let me know - otherwise I think the whole thing's may just be a cynical recruitment stunt. 

Best wishes


Mark