Union asks council for equal pay negotiations

The GMB union has written to Brighton & Hove City Council asking for equal pay negotiations

The GMB union has accused Brighton & Hove City Council of paying women less than men to do equivalent jobs.

The union has written to the council calling for negotiations, saying any future claim "could affect thousands of women and be worth tens of millions of pounds dating back several years".

Lib Whitfield, GMB senior organiser, said the council must issue an "unreserved apology" for the "appalling discrimination".

The council said it had "received the correspondence" from the union and will "discuss the issues in due course".

Ms Whitfield said: "For years this low-paid, predominantly women workforce has been paid less than those in male-dominated jobs - jobs rated equivalent under the council's own job evaluation scheme.

"The money stolen from our members has a significant impact on their day to day lives," she said.

"They've struggled to pay their bills and forced to work longer hours rather than being with their families.

"This council is responsible for not only the loss of pay, but the stolen time and quality of life of these workers."

A council spokesperson said: "We have received correspondence from the GMB this morning [Monday].

"We will consider what the union has communicated and will set up a meeting to discuss the issues in due course."