Edinburgh City Council
Several readers have been in touch to ask why Edinburgh City Council is making a further round of settlement offers - albeit not to all groups of staff at this stage.
The reason is that the council has continued to pay the traditional male groups of workers (refuse workers and gardeners) - more than the traditional female groups (carers, catering staff and cleaners) - even after the first round of equal pay settlements.
The first round of settlements covered the period up to 1 April 2007 - but beyond that date council employees have had a further and ongoing claim - which Action 4 Equality Scotland has continued to pursue.
In addition, the council faces a GMF hearing in February 2010 - where it would have to explain and justify the big differences in pay between male and female groups.
So, in preference to defending the indefensible - Edinburgh City Council has decided to try and reach a negotiated settlement.
The reason is that the council has continued to pay the traditional male groups of workers (refuse workers and gardeners) - more than the traditional female groups (carers, catering staff and cleaners) - even after the first round of equal pay settlements.
The first round of settlements covered the period up to 1 April 2007 - but beyond that date council employees have had a further and ongoing claim - which Action 4 Equality Scotland has continued to pursue.
In addition, the council faces a GMF hearing in February 2010 - where it would have to explain and justify the big differences in pay between male and female groups.
So, in preference to defending the indefensible - Edinburgh City Council has decided to try and reach a negotiated settlement.
