Equal pay claims by council workers top £32 million (From The Argus)
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Equal pay claims by council workers top £32 million
1:40pm Sunday 3rd February 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Equal pay claims by Brighton and Hove City Council workers have cost more £32 million to settle - and the bill could get even higher.
Up to 3,000 workers were eligible to make claims against the local authority after it was revealed they had been underpaid for years.
Four years after a fighting fund was established for negotiations, The Argus can exclusively reveal the total cost of the “proactive settlements”.
It comes as local authority bosses look to revamp the system of allowances that are paid to up to 75% of its 8,000-strong workforce.
With industrial action a possibility, confidential papers seen by The Argus show finance chiefs fear the council could open itself up to more litigation costs and lengthy disputes if it does not reform its pay structure.
Union representatives said they were aware of the potential issue, adding they had been questioning aspects of the system since the local authority was formed in 1997.
Alex Knutsen, of Unison, said: “We have been telling the council for the past 16 years this could be the case.
“On three separate occasions we have sat down formally with them to discuss it but for various reasons it has been kicked into the long grass.
“We know that any cost to the council is also a cost to staff and the taxpayer which ultimately will lead to jobs.”
In 1997 a national agreement required local authorities to look at different types of terms and conditions and provide a “single status” of employments.
It was intended to bring female cooks, cleaners, care workers and support staff up to the same wages as mostly male refuse collectors and maintenance staff.
Negotiations between unions and the council were supposed to be completed by a deadline of March 2007. A deal for two years' back-pay was initially struck but a series of European judgments meant women were entitled to up to six years' payments.
The Argus revealed in 2009 a fund of £37 million, made up of PFI money and a Government loan, had been established.
Three years on, confidential papers seen by The Argus confirm the amount paid out in “proactive settlements” has reached £32 million so far.
Negotiations between lawyers are still ongoing to settle about 80 unresolved claims.
Union representatives said the total bill could have been even higher if it had not agreed to work with the council to negotiate deals with workers.
The revelation comes a week after councillors handed control of negotiations for reforming its allowance system to officers.
In confidential papers, the local authority said keeping the current structure of payments, which make up 25% of some workers' salaries, would open it up to further litigation.
Bosses also ruled out a phased restructure saying it would lead to “inequalities” and open it up to legal challenges.
The council has set itself a deadline of March to come to an agreement with the unions about changes.
If it fails then it said it will “take all necessary steps” to force through changes by October.
The Argus understands the first preliminary discussion between senior officers and trade union representatives will take place on Tuesday.
Penny Thompson, the council's chief executive, said: “We are committed to negotiations with the unions and will continue to communicate with staff. “We have been clear that this is not about saving money.
“We are working towards a clear and consistent pay package that meets the council's service requirements.”
Mark Turner, of the GMB, said: “We will listen to what they have to say but it depends on what the council wants to do.
“We will not have a gun put to our heads. We are not in the business of cutting people's pay.”
Conservative group leader Geoffrey Theobald said: “The important thing here is to get a fair and equitable system for everyone.”
Labour group leader Gill Mitchell said: “Nobody has an argument with equal pay but these proposals go far beyond that and are being implemented in a way that is bound to be inflammatory.”
What do you think? Write to the letters editor or email letters@theargus.co.uk.
Comments(25)
fredaj
says...
2:30pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:Nice to see a proper old fashioned troll at work.
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
Great stuff!
nocando
says...
3:04pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Dealing with idiots
says...
4:51pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Arriseme
says...
5:33pm Sun 3 Feb 13
VoxUnpopuli
says...
5:46pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Arriseme wrote:Not sure which is the most absurd troll posting - Algeria's or this one.
Local government, that unreformed netherworld where good pay and even better pensions are the order of the day, where hard work is what the private sector does and where dinosaur trades unions and woeful management slug out unknowable concepts like ‘equal pay’ over the exhausted wallets of local taxpayers.
imnotpc
says...
6:14pm Sun 3 Feb 13
censored
says...
6:29pm Sun 3 Feb 13
It's a disgrace that in one of the most progressive and forward-looking cities in the UK, there should've been a 'fighting fund' to battle AGAINST equality.
BornInBrighton1968
says...
6:43pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:Quite so.
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
Women shouldn't be allowed to be in positions of responsibility anyway; you wouldn't let a 10 year-old child drive a car, so why allow women to make high-level decisions?
It stands to reason that it'll end in tears...
imnotpc
says...
6:49pm Sun 3 Feb 13
VoxUnpopuli wrote:yawn zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Arriseme wrote:Not sure which is the most absurd troll posting - Algeria's or this one.
Local government, that unreformed netherworld where good pay and even better pensions are the order of the day, where hard work is what the private sector does and where dinosaur trades unions and woeful management slug out unknowable concepts like ‘equal pay’ over the exhausted wallets of local taxpayers.
imnotpc
says...
6:55pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:exactly...but because you don't agree with the loony left they give the standard answer that you are a troll lol Don't you just love them hahaha
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
VoxUnpopuli
says...
7:00pm Sun 3 Feb 13
imnotpc wrote:So, assuming that you are both actually being serious here, how does Margaret Thatcher fit into your equation? I always admired her work ethic if not her policies.
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:exactly...but because you don't agree with the loony left they give the standard answer that you are a troll lol Don't you just love them hahaha
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
VoxUnpopuli
says...
7:00pm Sun 3 Feb 13
imnotpc wrote:So, assuming that you are both actually being serious here, how does Margaret Thatcher fit into your equation? I always admired her work ethic if not her policies.
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:exactly...but because you don't agree with the loony left they give the standard answer that you are a troll lol Don't you just love them hahaha
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
imnotpc
says...
7:08pm Sun 3 Feb 13
VoxUnpopuli wrote:no your right i always loved Maggie
imnotpc wrote:So, assuming that you are both actually being serious here, how does Margaret Thatcher fit into your equation? I always admired her work ethic if not her policies.
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:exactly...but because you don't agree with the loony left they give the standard answer that you are a troll lol Don't you just love them hahaha
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
pjwilk
says...
7:30pm Sun 3 Feb 13
still waiting
says...
7:59pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Hove Actually
says...
8:14pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Why do female cooks, cleaners, care workers and support staff need the same wage as someone doing a different job, as long as men and women are paid the same for the same thing where's the problem?
How much is the PFI & government loan costing us now and how much will it cost over it's full term?
a person
says...
8:15pm Sun 3 Feb 13
VoxUnpopuli wrote:I don’t remember Margaret Thatcher taking days off
imnotpc wrote:So, assuming that you are both actually being serious here, how does Margaret Thatcher fit into your equation? I always admired her work ethic if not her policies.
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:exactly...but because you don't agree with the loony left they give the standard answer that you are a troll lol Don't you just love them hahaha
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
because schools closed / her child needed to see the
doctor/ dentist /optician / or child was ill.
Or being late because there was no one to take the child to school.
Or Spending time on the phone
organising the childs day with a minder if inset day.
Plus getting extra money from the government for child caring costs
And free hours at nursery schools.
All this while other people have to cope with the extra work
and no extra money.
HJarrs
says...
8:32pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:I think that in terms of productivity points 1-6 are evened up for women by the amount of work time the average man spends talking about / arranging and sloping off to play golf, obsessing about cars and looking at or at least thinking about ****.
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
HJarrs
says...
8:34pm Sun 3 Feb 13
imnotpc
says...
8:39pm Sun 3 Feb 13
HJarrs wrote:We may think about p**n but at least we don't get pregnant and then have to take maternity leave lol.As everyone knows this leaves other people to do their work and upsets the running of the company hahahaha
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:I think that in terms of productivity points 1-6 are evened up for women by the amount of work time the average man spends talking about / arranging and sloping off to play golf, obsessing about cars and looking at or at least thinking about ****.
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
Fight_Back
says...
7:55am Mon 4 Feb 13
Hove Actually wrote:Indeed. Equal pay should be a for the same job so a man or a woman Refuse Collector should be paid the same. A man or a woman Teaching Assistant should be paid the same. Only in the world of Local Government would they think that a woman Teaching Assistant and a male Refuse Collector should get the same money. Two different jobs - two different salaries. Idiots the lot of them.
Two Questions.
Why do female cooks, cleaners, care workers and support staff need the same wage as someone doing a different job, as long as men and women are paid the same for the same thing where's the problem?
How much is the PFI & government loan costing us now and how much will it cost over it's full term?
VoxUnpopuli
says...
12:36pm Mon 4 Feb 13
a person wrote:Yes, that's rather my point. If one woman can do it so can many others. All of the negative points relating to women can just as easily be applied to men, many of whom share childcare duties and are subject to the same unfortunate occurences.
VoxUnpopuli wrote:I don’t remember Margaret Thatcher taking days off
imnotpc wrote:So, assuming that you are both actually being serious here, how does Margaret Thatcher fit into your equation? I always admired her work ethic if not her policies.
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:exactly...but because you don't agree with the loony left they give the standard answer that you are a troll lol Don't you just love them hahaha
The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share.
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.
because schools closed / her child needed to see the
doctor/ dentist /optician / or child was ill.
Or being late because there was no one to take the child to school.
Or Spending time on the phone
organising the childs day with a minder if inset day.
Plus getting extra money from the government for child caring costs
And free hours at nursery schools.
All this while other people have to cope with the extra work
and no extra money.
Fairfax Sakes
says...
1:37pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Andy R
says...
10:21am Wed 6 Feb 13
imnotpc wrote:Wouldn't "imnotliterate" be a better handle for you.
VoxUnpopuli wrote:no your right i always loved Maggieimnotpc wrote:So, assuming that you are both actually being serious here, how does Margaret Thatcher fit into your equation? I always admired her work ethic if not her policies.Algeria Touchshriek wrote: The bottom line is, is this is not meant to cause any offence, men are better workers than women and therefore deserve the lion share. 1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work. 2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work. 3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive. 4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands. 5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand 6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time. Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.exactly...but because you don't agree with the loony left they give the standard answer that you are a troll lol Don't you just love them hahaha
hahahahaha!
Algeria Touchshriek says...
2:28pm Sun 3 Feb 13
1. Women have kids, therefore have loads of time off work.
2. Men are biologically stronger, hence do more work.
3. Women chatter too much at work, hence less productive.
4. Women take longer to do a wee-wee and have weaker bladders. So if you take how much extra they spend in the loo year on year, the lost salary adds up to thousands.
5. Women are often too pre-occupied with how many fluffy things they have on their desk than the actual task in hand
6. Woman sneekily spend far too much time on their mobile phone, facebook nonsense and twitter etc, hence losing work time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for equal rights and therefore if men and women do an EQUAL job they should be paid the same. But more often than not, men do far more.