Thousands of women workers are set to gain from equal pay as a direct result of a Government funded TUC training programme for union reps on how to close the gender pay gap, according to Close the gap a TUC report released today.
A survey, designed to measure the effectiveness of the TUC training after its first year of operation, found that more than half the employers covered were now taking steps to address equal pay. Of these, two thirds (64 per cent) are conducting or have concluded a formal review and more than half (55 per cent) had set up a working party on equal pay. Two in five (41 per cent) have already developed an action plan to address pay gaps found by reviews.
Pay gaps identified as a result of pay reviews ranged from 1.8% to as much as 26%. The size of the gap meant a third of respondents said that closing identified pay gaps would be difficult. But 43% of employers pledged to take action on equal pay are committed to carrying out regular pay reviews, most on an annual basis.
Since September 2001, the TUC has trained some 400 men and women to become equal pay experts on its ''Close the gap'' online and classroom-based courses. As a result of the training, these newly skilled equal pay reps work with employers to identify pay discrimination and find ways of eliminating the problem which still sees part time women earning just 59p an hour for every 1 taken home by a male full timer.
Later today, the survey results are to be presented to delegates attending a TUC equal pay seminar, being held at Congress House. Speakers at the event include Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, Jacqui Smith MP, TUC Assistant General Secretary Kay Carberry, and Equal Opportunities Commission Chief Executive, Caroline Slocock.
Sixty eight per cent of survey respondents with employers taking action said that it was as a result of union pressure. Just over half (51%) thought that equal pay claims, or the threat of legal action, had encouraged their bosses to begin to address the problem.
TUC Assistant General Secretary, Kay Carberry, said: Thirty years after the Equal Pay Act, women''s pay still lags way behind men''s. Unions have stepped up the campaign for equal pay by persuading employers to examine the pay gap in their workplaces. Equal pay reviews and working parties are not going to destroy the pay gap overnight, but they are an important step on the road towards making wages fairer for women.
Deputy Minister for Women and Equality Jacqui Smith MP said: The Government will continue to work with the TUC and business to address the lingering pay gap between men and women. We are committed to seeing women''s talents fully used and rewarded.
This survey clearly shows that the best way to do that is for trade unions and employers to work in partnership. The TUC has done a great job training its union reps and setting up so many joint training schemes with employers.
''Close the gap'' contains case studies of unions and employers that have found the TUC equal pay training key to making progress towards fairer pay:
Managers at the BMW Group''s Oxford plant have undertaken training alongside reps from its recognised trade unions - Amicus/MSF and the TGWU - based on the material provided by the TUC. Paul Lewis, one of the firm''s human resources managers said that the training was invaluable because it gave us pointers in the right direction. Our aim is to become one of the world''s most attractive employers and equal pay is an important component of that objective. Simon Powell, Regional Industrial Organiser for the T&G said: Our reps are now much more aware of how to tackle the issue of unequal pay in the workplace, and look forward to working alongside managers to bring about a fairer pay structure for all the company''s workers. As a result of the training, the company intends to carry out a major internal communications exercise before embarking on an action plan to carry out a review of equal pay. It has already initiated a review of current statistics to find out where to focus at an early stage.
Alliance & Leicester plc has agreed to conduct an equal pay review, in partnership with its recognised trade unions. In February, it took part in the first partnership training course set up by the TUC, based on the new Equal Pay Review Kit produced by the Equal Opportunities Commission. Nigel Cadman, Head of Employee Relations at Alliance & Leicester, said: the use of a joint training programme helped all of us to see equal pay from a variety of perspectives which can only help us when we undertake a joint process later in the year. Kiaran Ryan, national branch secretary of PCS, said that the training was clear, to the point and well delivered. Clare Clark, general secretary of ALGUS (Alliance & Leicester Group Union of Staff), who set up and hosted the training, agreed that ''the two days covered all the aspects of running a review. Nigel Cotgrove, assistant secretary of the CWU said the course was ''essential for anyone involved in equal pay.''
TUC training helps close the pay gap
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