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| Birmingham City Council agrees huge equal pay deal | Birmingham City Council agrees huge equal pay deal |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Union members have protested for several years over the claims | Union members have protested for several years over the claims |
| Thousands of women are set to have their equal pay claims settled with a council after several years. | Thousands of women are set to have their equal pay claims settled with a council after several years. |
| The agreement between Birmingham City Council, Unison and the GMB union will see 6,000 staff with the authority receive settlement payouts. | The agreement between Birmingham City Council, Unison and the GMB union will see 6,000 staff with the authority receive settlement payouts. |
| The equal pay issue was one of the key factors in the authority declaring effective bankruptcy last year when it said it was facing a bill of £760m to settle the claims. | The equal pay issue was one of the key factors in the authority declaring effective bankruptcy last year when it said it was facing a bill of £760m to settle the claims. |
| The details of the agreement are confidential and the council's cabinet will be asked to formally approve it on 17 December. | The details of the agreement are confidential and the council's cabinet will be asked to formally approve it on 17 December. |
| The dispute relates to claims staff in female-dominated roles, such as teaching assistants, have historically been underpaid in relation to those in male-dominated areas of the council, such as waste collection. | The dispute relates to claims staff in female-dominated roles, such as teaching assistants, have historically been underpaid in relation to those in male-dominated areas of the council, such as waste collection. |
| The campaign for the 6,000 women was launched four years ago, the GMB union said, and talks restarted in November. | The campaign for the 6,000 women was launched four years ago, the GMB union said, and talks restarted in November. |
| "This result would not have happened without their dedicated and tireless leadership of a campaign which was overcome huge odds," Rhea Wolfson, from the GMB, added. | "This result would not have happened without their dedicated and tireless leadership of a campaign which was overcome huge odds," Rhea Wolfson, from the GMB, added. |
| The settlement was a "good day for low-paid women" at the council, Clare Campbell, from Unison, said. | The settlement was a "good day for low-paid women" at the council, Clare Campbell, from Unison, said. |
| "They will at last get the pay justice they deserve," she added. | "They will at last get the pay justice they deserve," she added. |
| "This will hopefully be the much-needed turning point for staff, services and local communities across the city." | "This will hopefully be the much-needed turning point for staff, services and local communities across the city." |
| Rhea Wolfson, from the GMB union, praised the thousands of woman who would now see their claims settled | Rhea Wolfson, from the GMB union, praised the thousands of woman who would now see their claims settled |
| The council started paying out equal pay claims after a landmark case was brought against the authority in 2012 but said in 2023 the bill had spiralled to £760m. | The council started paying out equal pay claims after a landmark case was brought against the authority in 2012 but said in 2023 the bill had spiralled to £760m. |
| However earlier this year, Max Caller, the lead commissioner appointed by the government to oversee the financial recovery of the council, said the bill to settle could be below that. | However earlier this year, Max Caller, the lead commissioner appointed by the government to oversee the financial recovery of the council, said the bill to settle could be below that. |
| Sally Maybury, a former admin assistant at the council, was one of 174 people who won the ruling at the Supreme Court more than a decade ago. | Sally Maybury, a former admin assistant at the council, was one of 174 people who won the ruling at the Supreme Court more than a decade ago. |
| She previously told the BBC: "I felt undervalued and treated as if I was worthless. | |
| "It was very difficult, I was earning about £18,000, but as soon as I hit £22,000, there were no more incremental pay rises so my salary was kept quite low. | "It was very difficult, I was earning about £18,000, but as soon as I hit £22,000, there were no more incremental pay rises so my salary was kept quite low. |
| "I remember one year, my tax credits went up, even though my salary didn't - that's just crazy." | "I remember one year, my tax credits went up, even though my salary didn't - that's just crazy." |
| Councillor John Cotton, leader of the city council, said the agreement marked the end of "an intense period of dialogue" between the authority and its unions. | Councillor John Cotton, leader of the city council, said the agreement marked the end of "an intense period of dialogue" between the authority and its unions. |
| "It is an important step on the council's improvement journey," he added. | "It is an important step on the council's improvement journey," he added. |
| Analysis | |
| By Simon Gilbert, BBC Political Reporter, Birmingham | |
| Today's news draws a line under what is, arguably, the defining issue of Birmingham's financial struggles. | Today's news draws a line under what is, arguably, the defining issue of Birmingham's financial struggles. |
| It will come as a huge relief to bosses at an effectively bankrupt local authority already dealing with making £300m of cuts over two years. | It will come as a huge relief to bosses at an effectively bankrupt local authority already dealing with making £300m of cuts over two years. |
| What will offer even greater comfort is the level of the settlement. | What will offer even greater comfort is the level of the settlement. |
| Up to £760m was thought to be the worst case scenario but we understand the final figure to be hundreds of millions lower – somewhere about £300m-£400m. | Up to £760m was thought to be the worst case scenario but we understand the final figure to be hundreds of millions lower – somewhere about £300m-£400m. |
| The obvious question now is will this reduce the level of cuts needed in the city? | The obvious question now is will this reduce the level of cuts needed in the city? |
| The answer is probably not. | The answer is probably not. |
| The cuts already in the pipeline are more to do with overspending in other areas. | The cuts already in the pipeline are more to do with overspending in other areas. |
| What could change is the level of assets sold off by the council. | What could change is the level of assets sold off by the council. |
| These were being sold to balance a £1bn government loan to offset, principally, the equal pay liability. | These were being sold to balance a £1bn government loan to offset, principally, the equal pay liability. |
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