21/01/2005
TUC calls for 2005 to be 'year of equal pay'
The TUC have announced that the gap between men and women's pay scales is still "as wide as ever".
TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady is expected to tell delegates at today's TUC/Equal Opportunities Review Discrimination Law Conference, that progress towards achieving equal pay for women has been "painfully slow", since the Equal Pay Act was passed 35 years ago.
The TUC say that women who believe that they are being paid less than men, still have to make their own individual case, which means it can take years to successfully resolve a case. Ms O'Grady warned: "Until unions are able to take group cases on behalf of female employees, the gender pay gap looks set to stay as wide as ever".
Official figures have shown that women working full-time still earn 19.8% less than men working full-time.
The TUC said that the voluntary approach to narrowing the pay gap is not working and called on workplaces to be "forced" to publish pay audits. Ms O'Grady said: "Without more honesty over pay at work, employers will continue to hide behind the British obsession of not talking about salaries and continue to pay their male and female employees who do the same or similar jobs differently."
Anthony Lester (Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC) also backed the TUC's statements and said that employers should be required to carry out pay reviews of the composition of their workforce, their employment and equal pay polices and practises.
The TUC has also published a guide to equality law to coincide with the conference. The guide explains the context in which discrimination operates in the UK and covers all aspects of it, including the law as it relates to race, gender, disability, equal pay, sexual orientation, religion and age.
(KMcA/SP)
TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady is expected to tell delegates at today's TUC/Equal Opportunities Review Discrimination Law Conference, that progress towards achieving equal pay for women has been "painfully slow", since the Equal Pay Act was passed 35 years ago.
The TUC say that women who believe that they are being paid less than men, still have to make their own individual case, which means it can take years to successfully resolve a case. Ms O'Grady warned: "Until unions are able to take group cases on behalf of female employees, the gender pay gap looks set to stay as wide as ever".
Official figures have shown that women working full-time still earn 19.8% less than men working full-time.
The TUC said that the voluntary approach to narrowing the pay gap is not working and called on workplaces to be "forced" to publish pay audits. Ms O'Grady said: "Without more honesty over pay at work, employers will continue to hide behind the British obsession of not talking about salaries and continue to pay their male and female employees who do the same or similar jobs differently."
Anthony Lester (Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC) also backed the TUC's statements and said that employers should be required to carry out pay reviews of the composition of their workforce, their employment and equal pay polices and practises.
The TUC has also published a guide to equality law to coincide with the conference. The guide explains the context in which discrimination operates in the UK and covers all aspects of it, including the law as it relates to race, gender, disability, equal pay, sexual orientation, religion and age.
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 September 2008
Funding Boost Of £455m For Equal Pay Claims
Funding of £455m will be awarded to councils in England to allow back payments relating to thousands of equal pay claims from women workers. In a move to speed up long-term commitments to achieving equal pay for all council workers, local government minister John Healey gave the go-ahead to 34 councils to raise the money through capitlisation.
Funding Boost Of £455m For Equal Pay Claims
Funding of £455m will be awarded to councils in England to allow back payments relating to thousands of equal pay claims from women workers. In a move to speed up long-term commitments to achieving equal pay for all council workers, local government minister John Healey gave the go-ahead to 34 councils to raise the money through capitlisation.
27 February 2006
Report highlights gender pay gap in the UK
Women are still being paid less than men, thirty years after the introduction of equal pay legislation, a new report has found. The government-commissioned "Shaping a Fairer Future" report from the Women and Work Commission found that women are earning 17% less than men. This was "bad for women and bad for Britain", the report said.
Report highlights gender pay gap in the UK
Women are still being paid less than men, thirty years after the introduction of equal pay legislation, a new report has found. The government-commissioned "Shaping a Fairer Future" report from the Women and Work Commission found that women are earning 17% less than men. This was "bad for women and bad for Britain", the report said.
26 June 2013
Unison Wins Equal Pay Case
Nearly 2,000 women members of Unison are celebrating a historic equal pay victory today. They have finally demolished the long-running defence by Scottish councils of paying men discriminatory bonuses that are denied to women.
Unison Wins Equal Pay Case
Nearly 2,000 women members of Unison are celebrating a historic equal pay victory today. They have finally demolished the long-running defence by Scottish councils of paying men discriminatory bonuses that are denied to women.
19 August 2014
New Data Shows Women Hit By 'Mid-Life Pay Crisis'
Female managers over 40 years old are earning 35% less than men, according to new data by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and XpertHR. To earn the same as a male manager over a career, a woman would have to work the equivalent of over 14 years more.
New Data Shows Women Hit By 'Mid-Life Pay Crisis'
Female managers over 40 years old are earning 35% less than men, according to new data by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and XpertHR. To earn the same as a male manager over a career, a woman would have to work the equivalent of over 14 years more.
01 September 2011
Commission On Minimum Wage Visit
Two Low Pay Commissioners are to visit London next week on a fact-finding visit about the National Minimum Wage. The visit is one of a number of planned trips the Low Pay Commission is making around the UK during 2011 to "gather information on how the minimum wage is operating".
Commission On Minimum Wage Visit
Two Low Pay Commissioners are to visit London next week on a fact-finding visit about the National Minimum Wage. The visit is one of a number of planned trips the Low Pay Commission is making around the UK during 2011 to "gather information on how the minimum wage is operating".
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.