HUNDREDS of GMB members marched through Brighton demanding an estimated £30 million equal pay settlement for female council workers during its annual congress today.

More than 1,000 employment tribunal claims have been lodged against the Labour-run authority so far.

The average claim is expected to top £30,000 of unfairly lost wages over six years, with GMB general secretary Gary Smith vowing to take the campaign to every council in Britain.

Addressing the orange-clad protesters at the city’s town hall after they marched through the seaside resort with an Indian bhangra band, he said: ”This is about wage theft. They are stealing money off women workers, predominantly working-class women.

”We’ve got to take this battle to every town and city across the UK.

”We are going to be taking industrial action, on the streets protesting and we are going to be absolutely making sure that the Labour government makes good on its promise to bring enforcement on equal pay.”

It has been one year since GMB raised the issues with town hall bosses, with council workers seen applauding the demonstration from the windows of the grade II listed council building.

GMB Southern regional officer Charlotte Gardner said in a speech: ”Brighton, what are you doing? We will not go away, you cannot ignore us.

”Ignore us at your peril. We are coming for you.”

GMB head of internal and industrial relations Rhea Wolfson told the Morning Star that more than 1,000 — and rising — equal pay claims have been lodged at an employment tribunal after the council refused to engage with the union.

Each is expected to top the £30,000 national average for such a claim covering six years of lost pay from the point papers are filed.

Equal pay was cited as a factor by Birmingham City Council declaring effective bankruptcy in 2023, when it said it was facing a bill of £760m to settle the claims.

Ms Wolfson said that the delays in settling led to the council more than doubling its liabilities due to the cumulative interest they are subject to.

The council, which has claimed GMB has failed to provide details of their claims, has been contacted for comment.