“Nobody takes any notice of the Equal Pay Act”. That’s the resigned view of Sue, a 53-year old home care worker.
“Nobody takes any notice of the Equal Pay Act”. That’s the resigned view of Sue, a 53-year old home care worker. For almost two decades Sue worked for a county council helping the old and vulnerable in their homes. She is one of 1,600 low-paid women to have pursued equal pay claims through Unison against her council employers. She recently received over £30,000 in compensation. Sue reckons if she had genuine equality with her male council workers she should recovered about £70,000.
Happy anniversary?
It is the 40th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act this month yet the Fawcett Society reports that women working full time earn on average 17% less than men. What is the achievement of this landmark legislation?
Does Sue feel that the 1970 Act has made life fairer? “Not really. The council gets away with what it can. They know they have a group of women like
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