GMB launches equal pay case

The GMB union is to use equal pay legislation for women to fight the wages differential which has been created for craft operatives em-ployed in woodwork shops.

It says it is being backed by the Equal Opportunities Commission in bringing a case against the national agreement for the building industry.

The differential came into being last year. As part of continuing restructure, site craft operatives were awarded an extra 3% on top of the general rise in pay.

Craft operatives in woodwork shops did not get the extra 3%. Employers claimed that they received higher rates already and that the enhanced basic rate for site workers would adversely impact on premium rates in factories.

The GMB has a major presence in woodwork shops. On the basis that a substantial number of women are employed in woodwork shops, it now intends to challenge the separate rates under the terms of the Equal Pay Act.

Allan Black, GMB national officer, said: "These women are being discriminated against because they can't get the rate of on-site construction workers."

An employer spokesman, however, questioned whether women make up a significant proportion of craft woodshop workers and whether their work is comparable with that of site operatives.