GLASGOW BITES BULLET ON EQUAL PAY

The breakthrough moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived - Glasgow City Council, Scotland's largest council, has decided to bite the bullet on equal pay. Great news for our clients in Glasgow and a huge boost to Action 4 Equality's ongoing campaign.

Details of the proposed settlement have been sent to all Glasgow clients, but we have been inundated with enquiries - so here are the key points:

• Individual offers of settlement will be made to Glasgow clients in mid May - these will be NET amounts - i.e. after deduction of tax and National Insurance contributions
• Payment will be made within 10 days of return - but in any event by no later than 30 June 2007
• The offer will vary according to individual circumstances - hours worked, length of service etc.
• Clients will receive up to 90% of the real value of their claims - a big improvement on the council's original offer
• The proposed agreement will settle claims only up to 31 March 2006
• The proposed settlement reflects the risks and delay of pursuing claims all the way through the Employment Tribunal process
• Offers will be based on all hours worked including average overtime - another big change
• A representative 3 month period (April - June 2006) will be used to calculate average overtime. If this period is not representative for any reason (sickness, maternity leave etc), a different one will be used
• Anyone who has recently retired or who will retire before April 2009 will have this increase in earnings factored into their retirement benefits
• Claims continue for all Glasgow clients from 1 April 2006 onwards and for at least another 3 years - because the higher pay of the male workers is being protected up to April 2009 at least
• Unfortunately, the council has continued to deny the claims of some groups of employees which we believe to be perfectly valid - former APT&C workers in non school settings and male workers in predominantly male jobs, e.g. special needs drivers. Also excluded are COT3 clients - i.e. those who signed the original Compromise Agreement in December 2005. All of these cases will continue as before and are not affected by the proposed settlement.

It's taken a bit longer than expected, but the ground is now shifting and moving forward in the right direction.

Action 4 Equality will now be focusing all its efforts on resolving the outstanding issues in Glasgow - while encouraging other councils to follow Glasgow's lead.