Southampton City Council agrees to equal pay

Southampton City Council reached an agreement with several unions on equal pay.

In January 2024 the council terminated task-and finish contracts that allowed mainly male waste collection and refuse collectors to leave their work after completing their daily tasks. The majority of women in the council who work at the same grade had fixed start and end times. They argued they were paid less for the same jobs as waste and refuse collectors, despite the fact that the tasks were equally demanding.

Unison, Unite, and GMB unions brought equal pay claims for hundreds of employees who didn’t have the same arrangements with the waste and rubbish collectors. Around 800 social care, administration, school, and housing workers were involved in negotiations and reached a settlement with the local authority.

In response to the equal pay settlement, council workers who are eligible will be offered payment in order to settle their claims. Employees who are eligible and do not have a current equal pay claim may apply for a payment settlement through an internal scheme launched by the council.

Southampton City Council’s spokesperson stated: “We have committed ourselves to making changes, to adopting new ways of working, and to learning from this situation in order to create a sustainable council that is transformative.” We are reviewing our processes and working arrangements as an employer to ensure fairness and equal treatment are at the heart of everything we do.

Charlotte Gardner, GMB’s regional organizer, said: “GMB Members, mostly working women, will be receiving significant settlements. The money they received would have enabled them to work less hours, spend more quality time with their kids, go on family holidays, or worry less about paying bills. GMB is happy that Southampton City Council worked with the unions in order to resolve this issue and make sure the workers received the money they were owed. We encourage other councils do the same.”