Former Warwickshire Council employees are contemplating legal action against the Council in relation to equal pay.
Women who worked as cleaners, cooks and catering staff, as well as care staff have contacted London based national firm Leigh Day & Co to recover compensation for bonuses they believe they were unlawfully refused while working. The bonuses were traditionally handed out to employees in male dominated jobs such as gardeners, bin men and street sweepers.
Offers of thousands of pounds were made to those employees of the council in female dominated positions in June 2008 to compensate them for their years of chronic underpayment.
These offers however were not available to all; only workers who were still in the job or who had recently left were eligible. Former Council staff throughout Warwickshire were told they were not entitled to the cash because they had stopped working for the council more than six months ago.
Most of those affected by this technicality are retired ex-employees of the Council with years of service and feel cheated by the Council’s actions. Many retired not knowing about the massive difference in pay and only discovered the extent of it after they had left. By this time it was too late to claim under the Council’s compensation scheme.
The issue affects other authorities in the area and such is the strength of feeling on this issue Leigh Day & Co are holding free advice sessions at:
- All Saints C of E Church, Coventry Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 4NJ on 3rd November 2008 from 12pm til 5pm; and,
- Rugby Golf Club, Clifton Road, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 3RD on 6th November 2008 from 12pm til 5pm
Leigh Day & Co have also set up a free advice line on 0800 037 4045 and have already received hundreds of enquiries from throughout the Midlands.
Chris Benson, from Leigh Day and Co solicitors, said a successful challenge would set a precedent. He said:
"We think it unfair that a worker could have spent 20 years missing out on bonuses and then be denied compensation on a mere technicality such as this.
Councils have chosen this six-month period because it's the cut-off point for employment tribunals, but their discrimination is a fundamental breach of contract - and cases like these can be brought within six years of leaving."
Councils have been aware of the inequality for years and are now recognising that this difference in pay discriminates between male and female staff.
Faced with a potential deluge of claims, Warwickshire County Council is no different from other authorities in refusing payments to employees who left more than six months before. Councils throughout the midlands may all face similar legal action as a result of their discriminatory pay structures.
For decades, male council workers could earn thousands on top of their salaries in bonuses, despite being on the same pay grade as dinner ladies and care assistants. In many cases, inequalities have only recently been phased out and in other cases, the inequalities persist.
Leigh Day & Co continue the fight for compensation for these former Council employees. They are operating under “no-win, no-fee” agreements and are still receiving new enquires on a daily basis from other ex council staff who were also refused compensation because they had left work more than 6 months ago.
If you have worked for Warwickshire Council in the past 6 years and think you may have a claim, call the Leigh Day & Co freephone number on 0800 037 4045.
For further information, contact:
Chris Benson
Solicitor
Leigh Day & Co
T: 020 7650 1229
