Leeds council workers back strike over equal pay dispute

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 17:02 · Archive

More than 2,000 Leeds City Council workers voted 94 per cent in favour of striking over equal pay claims.

More than 2,000 Leeds City Council workers have voted overwhelmingly to back potential strike action in an equal pay dispute. An indicative ballot showed 94 per cent support for industrial action after almost 2,500 workers took part.

The GMB union says women at the council have been 'systematically underpaid' for years. The Wharfedale Observer reports that more than 4,000 women are involved in an equal pay claim against the authority, with pay differences found between jobs staffed mainly by women, such as teaching assistants, compared to mainly male roles like refuse collection.

The union will now launch a formal strike ballot. GMB Senior Organiser Julie Wynn said: 'This is an overwhelming mandate for industrial action that represents the anger Leeds have created with its shamefully low offer to staff they've been underpaying for years. Thousands of women have had their say, and the message couldn't be clearer. Leeds council leadership now has no choice but to put a serious offer on the table or expect mass disruption to services across the city.'

Leeds City Council said it has been in discussions with the union and settled some elements of the claims last year but remains unable to reach agreement on outstanding elements. A council spokesperson said it wanted to find 'a settlement that is fair and realistic' and stressed it remained 'open to further discussions with the GMB'.

How it is being reported

• Pay row escalates as Leeds council faces full strike ballot by GMBThousands of council workers have said they are prepared to take strike action in a dispute over equal pay, according to their union.Wharfedale Observer · 16 Oct, 16:42
• Leeds City Council workers could go on strike over equal payThe GMB Union says women at the council have been 'systematically underpaid'LeedsLive · 16 Oct, 14:21

In this story: Leeds City Council · GMB Union · Leeds

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