Union encourages staff to submit equal pay claims after talks collapse

GMB Union has called on workers at Brighton and Hove Council to submit equal pay claims – thought to be worth millions of pounds – after talks aimed at negotiating a settlement have collapsed.

Brighton and Hove says it needs more details on the claims before engaging in talks, despite continued calls from GMB to discuss the claims.

The union lodged 400 equal pay claims against the council in August 2024, claiming sex discrimination over the pay of members in "predominantly female" job roles.

Commenting on the situation at the time, GMB said it had approached Brighton for discussions, but the council had "yet to agree to a meeting".

In a statement issued on Wednesday (9 October), the union claimed the council had "refused" to talk to workers about the claims, discouraged staff from making claims and had declined to meet with the union.

GMB said it had also contacted the government's Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) to facilitate talks to no avail.

Lib Whitfield, GMB Senior Organiser, said: "Brighton and Hove City Council claims it wants to act transparently with their employees and GMB, but has done nothing but send out misinformation to staff.

"It raises significant alarm bells that the council was so quick to tell staff there was no need to make legal claims against them whilst refusing to meet with GMB. Now the claim deadline looms.

“GMB urges Brighton and Hove staff to get in touch with GMB and protect their legal position by filling out our claim form today.”

Brighton and Hove has meanwhile complained that the union refuses to share details of the claim with the council in order for discussions to begin.

Jess Gibbons, chief executive at Brighton & Hove City Council, said the council had repeatedly offered to meet to discuss the claims in depth with the GMB "once details have been shared".

She said: "The GMB has still not shared the details with us about this pay claim, either directly or through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

"Until it does, it is very difficult for us to enter meaningful talks.

"We are an open and transparent council committed to being an equal pay employer and are disappointed the GMB continues to criticise the council in the media without providing us with the necessary detail relating to this pay claim."

Speaking to Local Government Lawyer on Thursday (10 October), Whitfield said the union had not asked for full talks, “we have just  asked to meet to go through all of the details and even clarified they wouldn’t need to respond just to listen as usual practice”.

The senior union organiser added: “For the council to suggest our claim is undermined because they won’t meet with us to get all of the claim details is ludicrous. Especially when the councils own executives spent months telling GMB directly that they know there is an equal pay risk during meetings.

“Time will show that the council is misleading staff in full knowledge of equal pay and the time limits.

“The council seems to be hoping that this multi million pound discrimination claim will just disappear if they continue to pretend it doesn’t exist.”

Adam Carey