Edinburgh - New Claims
A strange rumour has been doing the rounds in Edinburgh - and like most of these rumours it's completely untrue!
Apparently, people are being told that Action 4 Equality and Stefan Cross are not pursuing any new claims against the council - no doubt this is being put about by the same forces (amongst the employers and trade unions) that kept the workforce in the dark about equal pay for years.
Well the good news is that it's nonsense - complete nonsense.
We are still happy to take up new claims - and the reality is that new clients join up every day - both in Edinburgh and elsewhere.
Because there are plenty of council employees who still don't realise that they have a substantial equal pay claim - classroom assistants, admin & clerical workers, social care workers, nursery nurses and such like.
Employees in these groups have never been made an offer by Edinburgh City Council - so far at least - but they have just as good a claim as everyone else - because for years they have been paid less than traditional male jobs such as gardeners and refuse workers.
In addition, Edinburgh (like all the other Scottish councils) is planning to protect the higher pay of the traditional male jobs - and so the current pay gap (between male and female jobs) will continue - for another three years at least, possibly more.
So, anyone who has already accepted a financial settlement has a further and substantial claim - though the unions don't explain this to their members (because it makes them look bad) and the employers don't tell the workforce - because they would then have to compensate people for their losses.
Existing Stefan Cross clients don't need to do anything - your future claim is still being pursued with the council - but do spread the word and let your friends and co-workers know the score.
Apparently, people are being told that Action 4 Equality and Stefan Cross are not pursuing any new claims against the council - no doubt this is being put about by the same forces (amongst the employers and trade unions) that kept the workforce in the dark about equal pay for years.
Well the good news is that it's nonsense - complete nonsense.
We are still happy to take up new claims - and the reality is that new clients join up every day - both in Edinburgh and elsewhere.
Because there are plenty of council employees who still don't realise that they have a substantial equal pay claim - classroom assistants, admin & clerical workers, social care workers, nursery nurses and such like.
Employees in these groups have never been made an offer by Edinburgh City Council - so far at least - but they have just as good a claim as everyone else - because for years they have been paid less than traditional male jobs such as gardeners and refuse workers.
In addition, Edinburgh (like all the other Scottish councils) is planning to protect the higher pay of the traditional male jobs - and so the current pay gap (between male and female jobs) will continue - for another three years at least, possibly more.
So, anyone who has already accepted a financial settlement has a further and substantial claim - though the unions don't explain this to their members (because it makes them look bad) and the employers don't tell the workforce - because they would then have to compensate people for their losses.
Existing Stefan Cross clients don't need to do anything - your future claim is still being pursued with the council - but do spread the word and let your friends and co-workers know the score.
