Union equality ruling overturned

An employment tribunal ruling that one of the UK's biggest unions discriminated against women has been overturned on appeal.

The case was brought by Middlesbrough Council workers, who said the GMB focused on protecting men's pay in its Single Status equality negotiations.

In June last year a tribunal in Newcastle ruled the women were indirect victims of sex discrimination.

The union called Monday's successful appeal a "victory for common sense".

Single Status pay negotiations, where employers re-evaluate salaries to bring about equal pay for men and women, are happening across the country in the public sector.

This prolonged legal action did not serve the interests of women in local government Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary for Public Services

The Middlesbrough Council case, known as Allan, involved a period of pay protection for workers who faced a loss of earnings.

At the June tribunal, women members of the GMB successfully claimed the union failed them by concentrating on the interests of men, and not on winning them back-pay.

Following the appeal, GMB National Secretary for Public Services Brian Strutton said: "This prolonged legal action did not serve the interests of women in local government.

"GMB and others must all now work together to deliver the Single Status agreement and through it, equal pay.

Similar cases

"The real villains were employers who wouldn't cough up on equal pay and the government that blocked them from doing so."

The union will now argue that similar cases should be withdrawn following the appeal, he added.

Maxine Bartholomew, GMB Organiser for members at Middlesbrough Council, said: "Throughout the negotiations on Single Status I did the best I could for all GMB members in Middlesbrough.

"I am pleased that the Employment Appeal Tribunal has agreed that GMB did not behave wrongly towards our members."