Council women win right to bonuses and allowances

Women council workers have won an equal pay case that could cost their employer more than £30 million.

The 140 school meals workers, cleaners and care assistants employed by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council had lost out on bonuses and attendance allowances - worth more than £100 a week - paid to gardeners and refuse collectors, despite being on the same grades as the male workers.

The Newcastle tribunal ruled that the women were entitled to bonuses of 40% a week and an attendance allowance worth up to £34.88 a week. For full-time home helps or care assistants this will mean a rise of 57%, or an additional £119.39 a week on top of their wage of £217.56.

The women will also receive six-and-a-half years' back pay plus interest. The total bill for the women involved in the case will be around £2.5 million, but as the decision affects more than 2,000 council workers, it may cost the council more than £30 million in total.

A spokesperson for the council said that it is likely to appeal, and questioned the figures, saying that each worker's length of service would have to be taken into account.

The women's solicitor described the ruling as the biggest single equal pay decision since the Equal Pay Act was introduced in 1970.