Brighton council: GMB members submit equal pay claims

Members of the GMB union have launched legal claims against Brighton and Hove City Council over pay discrepancies between male and female workers.

The union says that its members are owed tens of millions of pounds as workers in predominantly female roles have been historically underpaid.

Lib Whitfield, senior organiser for GMB, said: “This sex discrimination in how the council pays its staff is serious, systemic and long-running.

"Workers in predominantly female roles have been historically underpaid and are owed millions. More claims will follow as more and more people join the campaign.

“GMB expects our members, who are predominantly low paid women, will win the money they are owed after years of unfair and unequal pay.”

According to GMB 400 legal claims against the council will be submitted over alleged sex discrimination relating to pay over several years.

The first tranche of claims has now been submitted with more on the way.

GMB estimates that the claims are worth tens of millions but “could be much more”.

Claims are currently being lodged with the Advice, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) and early conciliation work will now take place between the council and the union.

If no resolution is found, then the claims will be sent to an employment tribunal.

Jess Gibbons, chief executive at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “This council is committed to being a fair and inclusive employer. Our staff are our biggest asset.

“If there are genuine equal pay issues we will address them. We did just that with Unison on an equal pay settlement related to bank holiday working.

“We have made multiple requests to GMB for information relating to these equal pay claims and are therefore disappointed they have chosen to communicate with the media and submit claims to Acas without providing us with any information.

“As a council we will do all we can to make sure our staff continue to be treated with fairness and respect.”