Female council employees across the United Kingdom have secured a monumental victory, receiving more than £1 billion in back pay this year following a sustained equal pay campaign led by the GMB trade union.
The Root of the Pay Disparity
The union revealed that hundreds of thousands of women working in roles such as care, cleaning, and catering for local authorities were systematically graded lower or given inferior terms and conditions compared to male-dominated positions like refuse collection. This disparity persisted despite the roles being assessed as of equal value to their employers.
After years of being underpaid relative to their male colleagues, thousands of these women have now been awarded the money they were rightfully owed. The GMB confirmed the total sum reclaimed has just passed the £1 billion mark in 2025.
Outstanding Claims and Future Action
The fight for pay justice is far from over. The union stated that approximately 40,000 claims are still outstanding across 28 different local authorities. These remaining cases are likely to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds. Furthermore, the GMB is preparing to launch an additional 10,000 new claims in the coming year.
Rhea Wolfson, the GMB’s Head of Industrial Relations, delivered a powerful statement on the issue. “Fifty years on from the Equal Pay Act, it should be a source of national shame we have to make these claims,” she said. “But it’s amazing to know more than £1 billion will now be paid to the women who are owed it.”
A Warning to Employers for 2026
Wolfson issued a direct challenge to both public and private sector employers, signalling the union's intent to continue its campaign vigorously. “Employers need to take note in 2026 – wherever GMB sees women being underpaid compared to men, in the public or private sector, we are coming for you,” she asserted.
This landmark financial settlement highlights the persistent issue of gender pay discrimination within local government and serves as a stark reminder of the work still required to achieve true pay equality decades after the landmark legislation was introduced.
