A joint press release from the Birmingham City Council, UNISON and GMB will be circulated today, and there will be a communication from the council directly to staff. This will set out that there has been a framework agreed to end the current equal pay litigation against the council. Many of you will have claims lodged by UNISON’s solicitors, Leigh Day, and this agreement means that we are moving closer to settling them outside of court.
There is still a lot of work to take place to understand what UNISON individual members with claims lodged, will be offered. This will take some time, and it is likely that settlements for claims will not be ready until later in 2025 given the volume of claims, and the individual detail for each claimant that needs to be confirmed. This is, however, great news especially given pursuing legal claims in the tribunal would take several years before there was an outcome.
I know members with claims will have lots of questions, especially around the amount they may be expecting, however, as said, this detail will be down to individual level, and UNISON is not in a position to advise members of this as the current time – each offer will be an individual one.
For Members who have already submitted case forms
Every member who has submitted a case form has received an acknowledgement from UNISON’s Regional Organiser, Anita Edwards, and should have also received correspondence from Leigh Day. Please DO NOT re-submit a case form.
Please DO NOT contact the Birmingham Branch or the Regional Office to ask how much your individual settlement will be as we will not be able to advise on this at this stage. As soon as we have any more information we can share with you, we will write to you further.
Members with claims who will be retiring or changing jobs
In order for UNISON to carry on with your representation you must remain a member of UNISON. Please contact UNSION Direct if you need to update your membership details – 0800 0 857 857.
For Members and Non-members (grades 2-5) who have not yet lodged an Equal Pay claim.
There is still time to submit a case form and be part of the equal pay claims settlement. Individuals who are not members will need to become a UNISON member, and then they will be able to join the process.
Members will need to be working in a job group that is female dominated. Male members working in a job group that is female dominated are also able to submit a claim. If you are unsure please contact westmidlandscru@unison.co.uk for further guidance.
There are several documents that UNISON needs to progress your case:
- A completed case form
- A copy of your contract of employment or terms and conditions or letter of appointment
- A copy of any settlement agreement you may have signed, for example, if you have previously accepted the MOU and/or taken a claim with Equal Pay legal.
If you need an Equal Pay form please request one from the Branch at info@birminghamunison.co.uk.
Please return this information to westmidlandscru@unison.co.uk as soon as possible
Members outside of grades 2-5
If you are in a grade outside of grades 2-5 you could complete a claim form but please note, once we have assessed your claim there is a possibility you will be advised you don’t have a claim UNISON can support.
Members working in academies
Members working in an academy will only have a claim if they have transferred to an academy in the last 6 months.