Unison set for more equal pay fights

17 Mar 05
The record equal pay settlement at North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust is 'unlikely to be replicated elsewhere', employers have warned, despite Unison this week gearing up for the prospect of similar settlements for up to 450,000 of its members.

18 March 2005

The record equal pay settlement at North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust is 'unlikely to be replicated elsewhere', employers have warned, despite Unison this week gearing up for the prospect of similar settlements for up to 450,000 of its members.

The deal, yet to be agreed by the 1,500 women workers, could leave the trust with a bill of between £42.5m and £300m.

This contrasts with Cumbria's annual pay bill of around £6m. It will leave the trust, already battling over a collective deficit with its primary care trusts, facing a major budget black hole.

Unison lodged the claim in 1997 on behalf of women working in 14 different areas, including nursing, catering and clerical. Their pay rates, hours of work, pensions and sick pay were all compared with five traditionally male posts and found to be unfair.

The workers will receive between £35,000 and £200,000 each according to Unison, although how the settlements will be paid, in full or in phases, and from when are yet to be agreed.

Health minister John Hutton confirmed that discussions were under way between the trust, its strategic health authority and the Department of Health to ensure there was no 'impact on services'.

'It's been a long hard struggle,' said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis. 'We have always argued that there has been historic pay discrimination in the health service.'

The case will now be used by Unison as a precedent, and it has already sent around 450,000 letters to members reminding them of their legal rights.

However, employers, while watching the case with interest, remain adamant that Cumbria is an isolated case and its implications will be limited.

Sources said the trust, because of its geographical isolation, had a captive market and had historically underpaid its staff.

'There were a series of special circumstances in North Cumbria that are unlikely to be replicated in other trusts,' Alistair Henderson, deputy director of NHS Employers, told Public Finance.

He said the settlement figures had been inflated and the NHS now has a pay system that provides equal pay for equal value.

He added that employers were 'monitoring the situation' and were aware of Unison's activity. 'The issue will be discussed at staff council in April,' he said.

PFmar2005

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top