Equal pay cases could cost Prison Service millions

A
series of equal pay cases that could cost the Prison Service millions of pounds
to resolve began at Croydon Employment Tribunal today.

The
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has brought the equal pay cases on
behalf of 1,829 people who are mainly women in support, administrative and
managerial roles within the Prison Service.

The
union said pay gaps of up to £5,000 existed between support and management
grades and prison officer and governor grades that have been rated as being
work of equal value.

The
tribunal is expected to last more than four weeks and follows previous
tribunals that have resulted in both sides appealing the decisions.

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Mark
Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "This issue has been dragging on
and on, with Prison Service management constantly moving the goalposts and
continually striving to avoid their responsibility as a responsible
employer."

By Michael Millar