Last spring, an employment tribunal ruled against Birmingham City Council in an equal pay case. About 50 female workers in a variety of roles at the council, including lollipop ladies and cleaners, complained that until 2007 they had been excluded from bonuses worth up to 160% of their basic salary, despite being in the same pay grade as male colleagues.
After the ruling, Councillor Alan Rudge, cabinet member for equalities and human resources, said the issue considered by the employment tribunal related to the council’s old pay and grading structure, which was revised in 2007.
In its current drive to cut net expenditure by £330 million over the next three or four years, the authority intends to ensure that any changes made to employees’ terms and conditions and benefits are fair and in accordance with legislation relating to equal pay.
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