Equal pay row escalates as school staff vote on strike action

National World - LocalTV

Around 3,000 Birmingham school staff are being balloted by GMB over potential strike action amid growing frustration at delays to equal pay settlements. The council says progress is on track, but unions argue workers - mostly women - have waited long enough. The dispute is part of a wider crisis facing Birmingham City Council following its 2023 financial collapse.

Transcript

00:00Birmingham's financial collapse wasn't just about numbers on a spreadsheet.

00:04It was about years of injustice, buried, denied, then finally exposed.

00:10One of the biggest causes, equal pay.

00:12Thousands of mostly female school workers, cleaners, dinner staff, teaching assistants

00:18were quietly underpaid for years.

00:20In 2023, the council admitted it.

00:23In 2024, it signed a deal to fix it.

00:26But now that deal is showing cracks.

00:28The GMB union has launched a consultative ballot, asking 3,000 school staff if they're prepared to strike.

00:35It's not yet industrial action, but it's a clear sign that trust is wearing thin.

00:40The union says progress is far too slow.

00:43Payments that were promised by autumn haven't landed.

00:46For many, it's been nearly two years since the council owned up, and still settlement.

00:51The council insists it's working at PICE.

00:54The framework agreement is being followed.

00:56Unions argue those promises mean little, when workers still don't know when they'll be paid.

01:02Equal pay failure has already cost the city over a billion pounds, with more expected.

01:08And the wider picture is not improving.

01:11Bins are still uncollected.

01:13Libraries are cutting hours.

01:14Visitor services are disappearing.

01:16The city's political credibility is bleeding out.

01:20And with each fresh dispute, the wound deepens.

01:24What began as a financial crisis has become something larger.

01:27A breakdown in faith.

01:29Between workers and leadership.

01:31Between promises and outcomes.

01:32What began as a financial crisis has become something larger.

01:37A breakdown in trust.

01:38Between the council and its workforce.

01:41Between promises made.

01:43And promises kept.

01:44Being able to be a remembrance.

01:44From the council and its Yeonji itself.

01:57By the minister to Tulp impulsa, the councilman to come to the councilman, the councilman to come to the councilman.

02:01Happy peluschlag.

02:02Parísenengineering.

Category

Transcript

Recommended