Last week council workers in Bury won a legal battle over discriminatory bonuses. Although dubbed the “dinner ladies” case by the media, the settlement covers cleaners, carers and many other grades of council employees.
The fight, which at times included over 1,400 claimants, began in 2007 when UNISON launched a legal battle over unequal bonuses being awarded to male and female council workers in the locality. By the time the settlement was reached between the council and the union hundreds of individual cases had already been settled, leaving over 900 outstanding claims which will now be rectified in light of the decision.
Bev Hodkinson, a Bury council worker who was involved in the fight, celebrated the decision:
“I am delighted that the Council will not now be able to cheat us of our rights. They must start settling our claims now. My colleagues and I have already waited far too long.”
Comments