Care workers to take legal action amid equal pay row

Members of the GMB previously petitioned the council over equal pay

Care and support workers in Sunderland are to take legal action against the city council amid claims of unequal pay.

The staff, who work for Sunderland Care and Support Ltd (SCAS), which is owned by the council, could be owed hundreds of thousands of pounds, the GMB union has said.

It argues that those employed at SCAS, who are mainly women, have been unable to access the same pension scheme that predominantly male council workers use.

Sunderland City Council said it was "continuing to follow due and legal process".

The GMB union has said the women will lodge equal pay complaints through an employment tribunal.

It said more than 300 grievances have been lodged with the Labour-run council since September.

Care workers affected are set to protest outside Sunderland City Hall on Wednesday, and also plan to speak at a full council meeting.

While not directly employed by the local authority, Sunderland Care and Support Ltd is fully-owned by the council.

GMB rep Kim Inglis said: “Today we will bring real women's stories to full council.

"Stories like Gemma's, who said, ‘equal pay would mean I’m not living hand to mouth every month. I’d be able to spoil my little boy now and then and not have to worry if I could afford it’.

“These stories tell the real story on unfair pay, and we won't tolerate it. So today we are launching our formal legal equal pay cases."

The GMB says it was "looking at logging a case with the Equality and Human Rights Commission"

Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Care and Support said: "As we receive representations on these matters, we are continuing to follow due and legal process and it is completely incorrect and untrue to suggest otherwise.

"We are committed to this process and in working together to conclude this as efficiently and as quickly as possible, this is while recognising the complexity of the matters."