EQUAL pay claims in Scotland’s councils are “like the Titanic approaching the iceberg”, and the Scottish government must intervene, according to GMB Scotland.
In a letter to the First Minister, the union warns of potentially “disastrous” consequences as councils across the country continue to refuse to engage with workers on the issue.
A four-day strike is already under way among the low-paid and predominantly female carer workforce at Falkirk Council, with comrades in Renfrewshire and West Dumbartonshire due to follow suit next week after having claims for regrading rejected, but the union argues this is only the tip of the iceberg.
In Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Fife and Moray, GMB are already involved in equal pay campaigns, and more than a dozen other councils are facing calls for pay reviews.
GMB Scotland’s Louise Gilmour warned that they would not tolerate workers being held responsible for the possible council bankruptcies which could follow elsewhere if councils leave their “heads in the sand.”
Calling on the First Minister Humza Yousaf to create a specialist body to overcome inaction by both adjudicating on claims and enforcing compensation awards, Ms Gilmour wrote: “Scotland’s councils are approaching equal pay claims like the Titanic approaching the iceberg.
“Councillors have their heads in the sand and executives have their fingers in their ears but these equal pay claims will come, will be won, and will need to be settled.
“It is understandable that our councils are refusing to acknowledge the reality because the reality is unthinkable and the scale of these claims unimaginable for local authorities already being forced to cut services.”
She added: “Blaming equal pay claims instead of the systematic pay discrimination that has prevailed in our councils for generations is as dishonest as it is disgraceful.
“It is an attempt at emotional blackmail to persuade women workers that they are somehow being greedy and risking men’s jobs by simply asking for what they are due and have been due for years and years.
“The financial crisis facing Scotland’s local councils is not about women, it is about fairness and has been too long coming.
“Equal pay is not going away.
“It is incumbent on trade unions and politicians of all parties to learn the mistakes of the past so they are never repeated.”
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Councils are responsible for meeting their legal obligations to their employees, including on equal pay.”
