Women workers win equal pay appeal

Summary of story from BBCNews, November 29, 2011

A group of female workers in England’s West Midlands have won a Court of Appeal decision on equal pay claims.

The Court ruled that 174 former employees of Birmingham City Council are entitled to launch their claims in the High Court, paving the way for similar claims.

With the new ruling, cases can be heard in the high court, rather than just at employment tribunals, where there is a six-month time limit to pursue actions for compensation.

The women, who worked as cooks, cleaners, caterers and care staff, claimed they were excluded from getting the bonuses handed out to employees in traditionally male-dominated jobs.

Appeal judges unanimously ruled that Birmingham City Council had failed to establish that the deputy judge’s ruling on the 1970 Equal Pay Act was wrong or in any way flawed.

Linda Manders, who worked for the council for 10 years as a lunchtime supervisor at a school, said:

“Not being able to claim the pay I was entitled to is simply not right and this judgment helps me and others like me who may now be able to recover what they should have been paid over many years.”

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “We are disappointed by the judgment and are currently considering our next step, which could include an appeal.”