GMB is urging women working for Kirklees Council to check whether they are entitled to equal pay compensation, warning that thousands may have been underpaid.
The union believes female employees may have been paid less than workers in comparable male-dominated roles. Now more than 500 council staff are already joining a collective legal claim. The claim focuses on alleged pay differences between refuse workers and jobs traditionally carried out by women, including teaching assistants, catering staff and care workers.
GMB organiser Tristan Chard said the union was determined to recover any money owed. “For too long, women working at Kirklees Council have been short-changed. GMB is determined to put this right,” he said.
“Every council worker is entitled to fair pay. We’re urging anyone who may be affected to come forward, check their eligibility and join the campaign.”
Successful claimants could recover up to six years of back pay, with the overall value of the claims potentially running into millions of pounds.
Kirklees Council confirmed it was aware that trade unions were bringing equal pay claims on behalf of members and said the issue was affecting local authorities across the country.
A council spokesperson said around two-thirds of councils were facing similar challenges.
They added: “The Council are committed to working with our staff and Trade Unions on all employment matters, and we remain committed to approaching conversations in a spirit of cooperation and with the aim of finding a fair and sustainable way forward.”
The authority said that, because the matter is now subject to a formal legal process, it would not be appropriate to comment in detail on the claims.
However, it said it remained committed to engaging positively with the GMB and would provide further updates when appropriate.
