Former APT&C Groups
Regular readers will know that there was an important Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) earlier this month - involving Edinburgh City Council.
The case has implications for other councils as well because the underlying issue is whether non-manual workers (i.e. those employed on former APT&C grades) can compare themselves against manual worker comparators - for pay purposes.
Action 4 Equality Scotland takes the view that they can - and a previous Employment Tribunal agreed with our interpretation - afetr a major ten day hearing in 2009.
After all, why should a refuse worker be paid more than a Cook Supervisor, a Social Care Worker or Classroom Assistant - that is the real question the employers don't want to answer?
In reaching its decision the previous Employment Tribunal gave a withering judgment against Edinburgh City Council - by saying that it was trying to 'defend the indefensible'.
Unfortunately, Edinburgh appealed that decision - in what many regard as yet another abuse of public money - and so the case has gone on to the EAT.
The appeal hearing finished within the allotted time and everyone is now waiting for the EAT’s decision, which may take a number of weeks, if not months.
But as soon as we are notified of the decision - we will report the details on the blog site.
The case has implications for other councils as well because the underlying issue is whether non-manual workers (i.e. those employed on former APT&C grades) can compare themselves against manual worker comparators - for pay purposes.
Action 4 Equality Scotland takes the view that they can - and a previous Employment Tribunal agreed with our interpretation - afetr a major ten day hearing in 2009.
After all, why should a refuse worker be paid more than a Cook Supervisor, a Social Care Worker or Classroom Assistant - that is the real question the employers don't want to answer?
In reaching its decision the previous Employment Tribunal gave a withering judgment against Edinburgh City Council - by saying that it was trying to 'defend the indefensible'.
Unfortunately, Edinburgh appealed that decision - in what many regard as yet another abuse of public money - and so the case has gone on to the EAT.
The appeal hearing finished within the allotted time and everyone is now waiting for the EAT’s decision, which may take a number of weeks, if not months.
But as soon as we are notified of the decision - we will report the details on the blog site.
