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| Equal pay delays 'unacceptable' | Equal pay delays 'unacceptable' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A Scottish Parliament committee has attacked an "unacceptable" delay in implementing equal pay in councils. | A Scottish Parliament committee has attacked an "unacceptable" delay in implementing equal pay in councils. |
| The local government committee said there were 35,000 outstanding tribunal cases, despite the single status agreement having been reached in 1999. | The local government committee said there were 35,000 outstanding tribunal cases, despite the single status agreement having been reached in 1999. |
| It has called on ministers to set up talks between local authorities, unions and lawyers to resolve the problem. | It has called on ministers to set up talks between local authorities, unions and lawyers to resolve the problem. |
| MSPs also pointed out that the equal pay agreement had still not been implemented by all the 32 councils. | MSPs also pointed out that the equal pay agreement had still not been implemented by all the 32 councils. |
| The single status agreement was reached to resolve long-standing differences in local government salaries. | The single status agreement was reached to resolve long-standing differences in local government salaries. |
| The delays in implementing single status are unacceptable Duncan McNeilCommittee convener | The delays in implementing single status are unacceptable Duncan McNeilCommittee convener |
| But several legal rulings and other delays have led to a large number of workers, many of them low-paid women employees, taking equal pay cases to employment tribunals. | But several legal rulings and other delays have led to a large number of workers, many of them low-paid women employees, taking equal pay cases to employment tribunals. |
| Councils are facing an estimated compensation bill claims ranging from £340m to £1bn, according to the local government committee. | Councils are facing an estimated compensation bill claims ranging from £340m to £1bn, according to the local government committee. |
| Its convener, Labour MSP Duncan McNeil, said: "Quite frankly, the delays in implementing single status are unacceptable and many of the problems we're dealing with today could have been avoided through earlier resolution. | Its convener, Labour MSP Duncan McNeil, said: "Quite frankly, the delays in implementing single status are unacceptable and many of the problems we're dealing with today could have been avoided through earlier resolution. |
| "The current litigious situation is most regrettable. It has created caution in all parties that serves no-one well, least of all the claimants, who are mostly low-paid, female workers. | "The current litigious situation is most regrettable. It has created caution in all parties that serves no-one well, least of all the claimants, who are mostly low-paid, female workers. |
| "While we recognise it is difficult, we firmly believe that every effort should be made to reach a negotiated settlement." | "While we recognise it is difficult, we firmly believe that every effort should be made to reach a negotiated settlement." |
| MSPs on the cross-party committee also called on individual tribunal cases trying to decide on compensation levels to be settled immediately. | MSPs on the cross-party committee also called on individual tribunal cases trying to decide on compensation levels to be settled immediately. |
| And they want more done to stop new cases arising in the future, as well as annual equal pay audits for councils. | And they want more done to stop new cases arising in the future, as well as annual equal pay audits for councils. |
| A Scottish Government spokesman said equal pay in councils was a matter for individual local authorities. | |
| Ministers said any scheme to help councils would need to be based on need and backed up by "a strong business case". |