Sandwell council are facing thousands of equal pay claims after a job evaluation exercise has shown that many of their female workers have been discriminated against in terms of their pay.

Many of the staff affected are employed in schools across the council. Those staff that have been under paid are legally entitled to up to 6 years back pay. The cost of paying the back pay in education is expected to exceed £35 million. The council have taken the decision to pass this cost directly to schools, with costs to each individual school of between £176 thousand and £2 million. This money will be taken directly from school budgets.

A meeting was held today between the GMB, the union for school support staff and 3 of the teachers Trade Unions, NUT, NASUWT and ATL. All 4 Trade Unions are united in fighting this decision by Sandwell Council.

Roger Jenkins, Organiser with the GMB Trade Union said:  “This decision will put the future of Sandwell schools at risk. If the council is allowed to go ahead then this will result in redundancies in schools, meaning less staff to educate our children and significantly less funds to spend on educating the pupils. Those schools that already face funding shortages will be pushed into Special measures, putting the future of that school at risk. “

“The Single Status process has been carried out across the country, ensuring equal pay. Only Sandwell Council have taken the decision to pass the liability on to schools. The Pay and Grading of Schools staff was determined by the council not by the schools, if that grading structure is now shown to be discriminatory then it is the council that should pay and not our children. The GMB will do everything within its power to support their members, the schools and the future education of Sandwell’s children.”

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For further information please contact Roger Jenkins or Russell Farrington, GMB Organisers on Tel: 0121 550 4888 or Samantha Brookes, Press Officer on Tel: 0121 550 4888.