The women successfully argued, in 12 test cases, that bonus payments of up to 50% of basic salary made to men in traditionally male jobs, such as street cleaning, rubbish collection and gardening, were discriminatory.
The claimants will find out how much compensation they are entitled to following a remedies hearing, but their solicitor, Paul Doran, of Stefan Cross Solicitors, estimates it may be up to £25,000 in some cases.
Doran said: “This is a massive victory for the women, who have fought long and hard to uphold the simple principle of equal pay for work of equal value.”
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A further 1,000 equal pay claims are to be heard over the next 10 months.
The council’s assistant head of corporate personnel, John Rawling, told Reward & Benefits Today: “The council is considering appealing against other aspects of the tribunal’s extensive judgment. “
