Happy International Equal Pay Day!




International Equal Pay Day is an opportunity to celebrates the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value.

Our members continue to stand together and fight for equal pay. Here are some of our members demanding pay equality.

Legal Equal Pay Claims 

Glasgow City Council 

In March 2018,  Glasgow's equal pay women led the biggest ever equal pay strike in the UK, supported by their Trade Unions. 

The job evaluation scheme that was used by Glasgow City Council was not fit for purpose and jobs that were predominantly done by women were being undervalued. The dispute was fought in courts for more than a decade but the action of Glasgow women meant that the Council had to sit up, take notice and pay out the money that was owed to the women. 

Women and men in roles such as homecare, catering, cleaning, schools and nurseries took part in the strike action which led to the council beginning to discuss settlement agreements and the first interim pay out which took place in 2019. 

A further payment was made in 2022 and a final payment will be due when Glasgow City Council finally implement a new Job Evaluation scheme for every worker. 




Dundee City Council 


In 2021, GMB Trade Union were informed that some workers who were predominantly males were accessing a bonus of up to £300 per week for attending work. This was a bonus that women dominated roles could not access. This month after a long 4 years, Dundee City Council went into settlement negotiations with GMB and hope to settle by early 2025.

If you work for Dundee City Council or Leisure and Culture Dundee and have not submitted a claim, you can do so here: 

Dundee Equal Pay Claim Form


Fife Council 



GMB Scotland is now taking equal pay claims in Fife Council for female dominated roles which we believe are doing work of equal value to male dominated roles but paid up to £3 less per hour. 

In 2023, the Employment Tribunal ruled that the Job Evaluation Scheme did not meet the requirements of the Equality Act (2010) and was not transparent so open to manipulation. This means that many Fife Council employees working in predominantly female roles have receiving a lower pay grade than other workers employed in equivalent roles because their jobs were not evaluated properly. 

Fife are lengthening the process by challenging the outcome and there is a hearing scheduled for next month. GMB members working in Fife: it's time to stand up to your employer and have your voice heard - let's demand that they enter settlement negotiations, pay employees what they owe and stop wasting tax payers money!

If you work for Fife Council or On Fife and haven't submitted your claim, you can do so here:
Fife Equal Pay Form



West Dunbartonshire Council 



In May, West Dunbartonshire Council Carers took strike action as they also believe that their current Job Evaluation scores do not reflect the work that they do.  

 Members in this role have submitted claims to the Employment Tribunal because they do work of equal value to that carried out by male employees but are paid less than them. 

Furthermore, GMB now believe that female dominated jobs across West Dunbartonshire Council are 

This is completely unacceptable and GMB Trade Union will continue to support any members who are not getting Equal Pay! 

West Dunbartonshire Council Claim Form



If you have any questions or want to find out more about getting your job evaluated, contact ScotlandWCU@gmb.org.uk or your GMB Organiser

Job Evaluation

Job Evaluation & Equal Pay are different, but if a Job Evaluation is not done properly it can lead to Equal Pay issues.

Carers across Scotland have been undervalued  for years and you will see below where GMB members have challenged their employer to be paid correct for what they do. 

There are are many other jobs within councils currently going through Job Evaluation such as joiners, technicians and learning assistants. 



South Lanarkshire Carer Victory 


In 2023, care staff celebrated a huge equal pay victory after South Lanarkshire Council agreed their more complex roles should be reflected in their pay.

This meant an increase in hourly pay for home carers by at least £3 an hour to a minimum of £16.24.

GMB Scotland organiser Cara Stevenson said: "This is a great achievement for our home care members and I am extremely proud of them for carrying on the long fight to get what they deserve. I hope other care workers look at this result and are inspired to organise to fight for the same recognition of the vital work they do."



Renfrewshire Council 


Home Care Victory 

In April 2024, Renfrewshire Council Home Care Members took strike action to demand that they are valued by the Council & to ensure that all Home Carers in the Council are getting fair pay for the job they do! 

They  moved from a Grade 2 to a Grade 4 and and at the end of the October our members will be paid backpay which will see carers getting thousands of pounds.
 


 Team Leader Victory

When the home carers took strike action, the Team Leaders who they work alongside supported their colleagues in solidarity. 

The Team Leaders then went through the process of Job Evaluation so that they too could ensure they were being paid correctly for what they do. 

Earlier this month, the evidence that the Team Leaders had provided proved that they score higher than what their previous Job Evaluation stated and will move up a grade. 

They will be moving from a Grade 4 to a Grade 5  and back pay will be negotiated with the council in the coming weeks. 





Falkirk Council


In May, Falkirk Personal Carers took strike action as they felt that they were underscored on their Job Evaluation by the Council and took strike action to demand that it is looked at again taking all their evidence into account. 

They have recently attended interviews with the Council to explain their role and answer questions about it and are waiting to here from the council whether any of their scores will be changed which could result in a change in their pay. 

 
They also have claims in the Employment Tribunal to protect their position. 

If you are a personal carer for Falkirk Council and have not submitted a claim, you can do so here: 
Falkirk Equal Pay Claim Form



Moray Council 

GMB Convenor Shona Scott led a Job Evaluation for Social Care Assistants in Moray Council with support from the local organiser and GMBs Women's Campaign Unit. 



It was a long, drawn out process but made the victory that much sweeter when the grade was uplifted and two years back pay was paid out to Social Care Assistants in Moray Council! 
 

Equal Pay: Questions and Answers 

Is Equal Pay Law just for women? 
No! By law, men and women must get equal pay for doing 'equal work'. This is work that equal pay law classes as the same, similar, equivalent or of equal value. This means someone must not get less pay compared to someone who is both: the opposite sex to you.

Generally, women are affected more as they are more likely to be paid less than men which leads to some people assuming that it is only for women. 


I work for a private employer, can I get my job evaluated?
Get in touch with your local organiser or contact the Women's Campaign Unit at ScotlandWCU@gmb.org.uk and we will assist you in approaching your employer about getting your job evaluated. 

 

GMB Members are making work better not just for themselves, but for the next generation