Striking women have right to be outraged - Tory MP

Conservative MP Suzanne Webb said strikers have "every right to be outraged"

A Tory MP has thrown her support behind more than 1,500 female school staff who took part in a strike over an ongoing equal pay claim dispute.

Teaching assistants, catering staff and other workers from 35 schools across Birmingham carried out industrial action on Tuesday - the same week pupils took their Sats exams.

Speaking on BBC Politics Midlands, Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb said it was “absolutely scandalous” that women were being disparaged in the workforce.

Birmingham City Council said it was keen to work with the GMB union and that it was committed to resolving the equal pay issues.

About 500 women gathered outside Birmingham Council House in protest

”I’m the least likely person to support any union, however in this instance they have every right to be outraged by what is happening,” said Ms Webb.

“It is absolutely scandalous that in 2024 we are still talking about parity in pay for women, I feel for every single woman that has been outside that council house and demonstrating.”

The Black Country politician criticised the Labour-led local authority and told viewers, “this is what will happen if we get a Labour government in place.”

Commenting on the issue, John Spellar, Labour MP for Warley, deemed the equal pay row “a long-term inherited issue”.

He said: “When the equal pay issue first blew up, the government of the day offered local governments the ability to borrow money to sort it out.

“Sandwell took that offer and paid it off over seven years, Birmingham under a Labour Liberal Democrat coalition government stuck their head in the sand and hoped it would go away.

“This is a problem that needs solving but it’s one that has been lying around for a long time.”

During the recent strike, about 500 people gathered outside the city's council house in protest with one woman saying she had taken on extra work to cope with the rising costs of living.

John Spellar says the council 'stuck its head in the sand' over equal pay claims

Members of the GMB union voted in favour of strike action in April and accused Birmingham City Council of delaying the settlement of equal pay claims made by low paid women workers.

The dispute relates to claims staff in female-dominated roles have historically been underpaid when compared to men.

The city council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September as a result of an equal pay claim of up to £760m, as well as an £80m overspend on its beleagured IT system.

But the £760m cited in the council’s budget was the maximum potential liability and could be lower, it said.

The council said it had begun to work on a new job evaluation process to settle the equal pay issues.

A spokesperson said the authority had been engaging with GMB on matters of equal pay since November 2021.

“The council is keen to work together with GMB to explore solutions, as it remains committed to resolving historic equal pay issues and settling all legitimate claims from our employees," they said.