Birmingham fights off case over controversial equal pay consultation

Unions have called off a £68m legal action against Birmingham City Council over a pay and grading review, the Birmingham Post has reported.

The five unions – Unison, GMB, Unite, UCATT and Amicus – had claimed the local authority had failed to consult properly over the review, which was prompted by inequalities in pay between men and women. The review saw 5,000 employees suffer pay cuts.

Cllr Alan Rudge, Birmingham’s cabinet member for equalities and human resources, welcomed the decision, saying the council could have been “crippled” if it had lost the case. Birmingham is already looking to cut 2,000 jobs because of financial pressures.

Claiming that the case “should never have been brought in the first place”, Rudge argued that the legal action was the result of pressure from national union bosses, with local shop stewards content with the way the council conducted the review.

He told the Birmingham Post: “I never thought the unions’ claim for backpay would be upheld, but we had to fight the case. The money we spent on litigation does not help city council employees.

“The fact that the case has been dropped confirms what we knew all along. That the consultation process was fair and lawful. I am delighted that common sense has prevailed.”