What do members need to know?

"UNISON has a proud history of fighting to achieve equal pay for our members. Our record is second to none," says general secretary Dave Prentis.

The union's overall goal has always been to negotiate fair and equal pay through fair and equal grading structures that are sustainable over time. We want to ensure that winning equal pay for members doesn't mean losing jobs and services further down the line.

But if negotiation doesn't work, UNISON has never been afraid to litigate on behalf of members. It was through litigation that we won equal pay for 1,500 women at North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust last year. We also went to the courts on behalf of school meals workers in North Yorkshire.

And litigation is being pursued for thousands of members in the NHS to secure equal pay following the implementation of Agenda for Change.

Agenda for Change in the NHS and Single Status in local government have established the principle of equal pay but there is still a long way to go before the principle is fully implemented as a reality.

And even members who have achieved equal pay because of the union's negotiations may be owed back pay for past discrimination.

UNISON is fighting hard to ensure workers across all public services get fair treatment and equal pay at work.

< Back | More >