Edinburgh Equal Pay - Frequently Asked Questions
February 2012 (Please
see new FAQs March 2012)
1. I already have a claim lodged; do I need a new
one now?
If you claimed after Modernising pay came in (October
2010) you do not need to claim again. If you have an
old claim from before Modernising pay
and you want to challenge Modernising pay as well
you need to submit a form. If in doubt submit
a form.
2. I've had a claim in for ages when do I get my
money?
Every offer from the employer is communicated immediately
to the member along with advice from Thompsons. No offers
have been made this year but the council have told us
to expect offers very soon.
3. Why have other people got their money?
We are not aware of anyone receiving payments this
year. Offers are being processed but there are literally
thousands of individual offers which require specific
calculations and individual legal advice. The process
takes time. Every phone call we receive diverts people
away from the task of processing negotiations, advice
and offers.
4. Why am I only being told now?
UNISON has made every effort to promote awareness of
equal pay claims through individual letters, workplace
posters, leaflets, meetings, UNISON magazines and the
local press. We have over 2000 claims in Edinburgh so
the word has definitely reached the members very effectively
5. Why the deadline for claims?
If we are to conclude negotiations and settlement with
the employer we need to know who believes they have
a valid claim and to assess the chances of those claims
winning. Members have had over seven years to submit
claims and it is reasonable that we enter final settlement
talks with the employer so those workers who have waited
for years can receive the money they are due.
6. People tell me Stefan Cross are doing things
differently
We cannot comment on the commercial service provided
by Fox Cross. But we do have an undertaking that the
settlement terms for all council employees are identical
7. I want personal advice on my claim
The only option is to complete a CASE form and send
any supplementary questions to Thompsons in writing.
UNISON simply gathers the CASE forms. We don't lodge
the claims or do the legal work. All that is done by
Thompsons
So the message is - fill in a CASE form and return
ASAP
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