Edinburgh - New Claims 1
Edinburgh City Council is in the process of settling some of its equal pay claims - those brought by employees doing 'manual worker' jobs such as cleaners, catering workers and home helps.
But there is a much greater group of people who have just as good a claim as the manual workers - and who have not been offered a penny piece by the council - to make up for many years of pay discrimination.
Who are they?
Classroom Assistants - helping young people get the best out of their education
Clerical and Admin Workers - in schools and other council departments
Catering Managers - overseeing Edinburgh's school meals service
Social Care Workers - providing personal care and support in the community
Nursery Nurses - providing early years educational support
Why do these groups have an equal pay claim?
Because for years they have been paid thousands of pounds a years less than traditional male jobs - such as refuse workers, road workers, gardeners and gravediggers.
For example, a refuse driver has been paid @ £20,000 a year by Edinburgh City Council for the past several years - but all the predominantly female jobs mentioned above have been paid much, much deal less.
No harm to the chap driving the refuse lorry - but if he's worth £20,000 a year, what's a Classroom Assistant or a Social Care Worker worth?
The employers and the trade unions have kept women workers in the dark about this blatant pay discrimination - despite signing a Single Status (Equal Pay) Agreement in 1999 which was supposed to guarantee women workers equal treatment.
But the fact is that when you look at the content of these male and female jobs - the huge differences in pay simply cannot be justified - hence the reason so many people have a claim for equal pay and up to 5 years in back pay.
So, if you fall into one of these categories, you should register an equal pay claim now. It's not too late, there's still time - and Action 4 Equality is here to help.
For more information or an application form ring 0131 667 7956 or e-mail Mark Irvine at: markirvine@compuserve.com
