06 May 2005
The Association of London Government is to conduct its first equal pay audit to counter any potentially discriminatory practices in the treatment of its workforce.
The organisation has made the audit one of its priorities as set out in its business plan for 2005/06. All local authorities are required to carry out an audit but few have done so.
The ALG's decision comes as trades unions are increasingly focusing their attention on the pay gap between men and women, which government figures have put at 10% in the public sector.
Despite the 1997 single status agreement in local government, which was supposed to address the issue, little progress has been made. The unions say it will cost up to £2bn to plug the gap.
A spokeswoman for the ALG, which represents the 33 London authorities, said the body recognised the importance of the issue and was leading by example.
'All local authorities have to undertake an equal pay audit and the ALG is committed to emulating best practice, so that's why we have to decided to do it,' she added.
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