BARNET Council faces an equal pay claim worth tens of millions of pounds, GMB announced today.

The union said that it has begun proceedings on behalf of around 400 women working as school support staff at the council.

They say there are structural pay differences between members of staff working in roles staffed predominantly by women and those roles carried out mostly by men such as refuse staff.

If successful, members will be able to claim for up to six years’ pay differential, as well as for the time it takes to settle the case.

GMB accused the council’s HR boss of refusing to meet with the union since January.

GMB Barnet branch secretary Beverley Gunning said that it is shameful it had been forced to take the council to court, adding: “The longer it takes to settle this claim, the larger the settlement will grow.

“Barnet Council is running out of time.”

The council said: “We are always happy to meet with union colleagues. GMB is yet to set out which staff, at which grades, in which schools they believe have a claim. 

“GMB has also overlooked that, while school staff in maintained schools are legally employed by the council, schools undertake their own recruitment, hold their own HR records, set their own recruitment and retention policies, and make local decisions about working practices.”