A GROUP of dinner ladies who were “victimised” for pursuing an equal pay claim have won their case for compensation against St Helens Council.
The 39 dinner ladies took their claim to a Liverpool tribunal last week and were found to have been bullied by colleagues after the council sent out a letter to staff.
Due to a confidentiality clause in the settlement agreement the compensation amount will not be disclosed and neither the women or the council can comment.
The letter, dated January 19, 2001, told of dire consequences to the school dinner service if some of the women pursued their entitlement to equal pay. The council also claimed redundancies could follow as a result of the women’s fight, which they went on to win in 2001.
The court said: “The letter of January 19, 2001, contained what was effectively a threat. It spelt out a danger that the applicants might deprive children of school dinners and might cause redundancies among their colleagues... the letter was intimidation.”
The 39 women later each received a share of around £560,000. During the women’s tribunal last week, they gave evidence of the stress and upset they suffered as a result of the letter.
Staff who had accepted the earlier settlement complained around the time of the letter that if school meal prices increased, their families would struggle to pay.
Speaking after the verbal ruling of the tribunal, Barry Smith, GMB Legal Officer said: “GMB is delighted to have won the equal pay claims for the 37 women members and it is plain that the dire consequences threatened by St Helens Council have not occurred.”
