Zarah ChoudharyBirmingham City Council workers gathered in Victora Square to mark what GMB referred to as the “historic first step” in settling a long-running equal pay issue.
Four years after launching their campaign, 6,000 low paid, predominantly women workers are set to receive settlement payments from the local authority.
GMB Union re-entered talks with council chiefs last month and have now settled the claims – known as a ‘framework agreement’.
Settlement payouts are expected to be as much as four-times higher than the payment offered to staff in 2021, with settlement expected to take place in the middle of 2025.
Rhea Wolfson, head of industrial relations at GMB, said: “The women of Birmingham City Council have delivered an historic outcome today.
“This result would not have happened without their dedicated and tireless leadership of a campaign which was overcome huge odds.
“They were told there wasn’t enough money, that they must accept that women workers are paid less.
“But they showed Council bosses that the show doesn’t go on without them.
“Their bravery on the picket line, in the classrooms, care homes, offices and workplaces across Brimingham has been staggering.
“This result today sends a clear message to employers across the country.
“Pay discrimination is rife and GMB will not turn a blind eye when women workers are being short-changed.”
Councillor John Cotton, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This framework agreement marks the end of an intense period of dialogue between the council and its unions. It is an important step on the council’s improvement journey.
“I would like to put on record my thanks to GMB and UNISON for the constructive way in which they have approached these negotiations.
“I was appointed as Leader to end the failings within this council that led to the equal pay liability and this framework agreement is intended to mark the start of a new era of productive and progressive industrial relations built on trust and mutual respect.
“The council is facing unprecedented challenges.
“It will only get through this period by working collaboratively with its staff and their union representatives to focus upon delivering the best possible outcome for communities across the city.
“The next phase of the equal pay programme will be to deliver a new pay and grading model and job evaluation scheme so that pay inequality at the city council can end once and for all.”
