North East councils in staff pay row

Councils in the North East of England may be forced to pay out
millions to care workers and other staff in claims for equal
pay.

Hundreds of low paid staff are rejecting an improved pay deal
offered by councils under the single status agreement and are
enlisting the help of solicitor Stefan Cross, who claims he can win
a better deal.

Chief executive of Redcar and Cleveland Council Colin Moore has
warned that the council could end up £20m out of pocket and be
forced to cut services if the number of cases rises. He is also
targeting Hartlepool and South Tyneside councils.

The council has offered 3,900 lower paid staff improved terms
ranging from a few hundred to thousands of pounds and 2,600 women
workers a one-off “hurt feelings” payment of up to
£6,000.

Cross, a former vice-chair of Newcastle Council’s social services
executive committee, is representing over 300 women and 85 men,
whom he believes will each be awarded an average £15,000
settlement.