Welsh Unions Push for Equal Pay The GMB and Unison, the two main trades union for local authority workers, say they will initiate legal action if Welsh authorities do not move toward equal pay for women, cost likely to run to £300m a year 19.03.07 BBC, Equality, Local Authority Equal Pay, Local Authority Law

Low Pay Equality Will Cost Men Higher pay for women working for local authorities in unskilled roles, typically on lower rates than men, including £10b compensation for years of discrimination, could end in cuts to male pay up to £15k a year 12.03.07 Times, Employment Law, Equality, Local Authority Equal Pay, Local Authority Law

Unequal Britain Blair's Equality Review highlights extent of discrimination in UK, mothers of young children worst effected, disabled and ethnic minorities, solution requires wide flexibility for men as well as women Guardian From executive to cleaner via maternity leave 01.03.07 Telegraph, Equalities Review, Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Disability Rights, Equality, Race Discrimination

Unequal Britain Blair's Equality Review highlights extent of discrimination in UK, mothers of young children worst effected, disabled and ethnic minorities, solution requires wide flexibility for men as well as women Guardian From executive to cleaner via maternity leave 01.03.07 Telegraph, Equalities Review, Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Disability Rights, Equality, Race Discrimination

Mothers Focus of Discrimination Women with children under 11 face greatest discrimination in workplace, Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) will find, half as likely to be employed as a man, worse position than disabled and ethnic minorities 28.02.07 BBC, Employment Law, Equality

Women Will Lose From Pension Fund Payments from Pension Protection Fund may not be included in divorce settlements, payments are not pension but 'compensation' and are beyond reach of divorcees 08.01.07 Guardian, Divorce, Pension Protection Fund, Pension Regulator, Pensions

Missing Women Around 6k women would need to break through 'glass ceiling' to top executive jobs to bring women to parity with men in upper ranks of UK business 05.01.07 Reuters, Equality

Call for Easier Abortion British Pregnancy and Advisory Service is calling for end to rule requiring consent from two doctors to secure abortion, termination should 'responsible back up' to contraception 28.11.06 Times, Abortion, Family Law

Pension Reform May Fail Women Planned reform of pensions to imporve benefits to women, especially carers outside formal employment, fear that relatively small savings in personal account will be lost through offset with pension credit 21.11.06 BBC, Pensions, Pre-Budget Report 2006

Both Sides Hail Cadman Victory Employers and unions are both claiming success in the Cadman case, ECJ ruled length of service could be reason for pay differential, CBI says ruling 'common sense', Prospect says it 'enshrines in law' need to justify unequal pay 05.10.06 Times, Cadman Case, Employment Law, Equality

Manager Dismissed for Pregnancy Finance manager of Perdu bar, Angela Hildreth, in Newcastle awarded £8k for constructive dismissal, harrassed when she became pregnant, case handled by law students at Northumbria University 26.04.07 BBC, Employment Law, Legal Student

BNP Accused of Culture of Sexism Katharina Tofeji alleges she was told to flirt with clients, career constrained, had to put up with remarks about her looks, refused flexible working, claiming £1.4m for sex discrimination and constructive dismissal 17.04.07 Times, Flexible Working, Employment Law

Stronger Rights for Maternity Leave Mr Justice Burton has ruled in High Ct that, in test case brought by Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), that UK does not properly apply the European Equal Treatment Directive, periods of leave must count as 'continuous service' for promotion, consultation on changes to job 13.03.07 Telegraph, Employment Law, Maternity Leave

Trudi Styler, Tyrant Jane Martin worked as a chef for Sting and wife Trudi Styler for eight years, treated to lavish gifts until she became pregnant, says Styler terrorised managers until they sacked her 07.03.07 Daily Mail, Celebrities in Law, Employment Law

Low Pay Cases Will Cost Billions Hundreds of thousands of dinner ladies and other unskilled, low paid women employed by local authorities could claim back pay for years of under payment relative to men, cost could run to £5b this year alone 06.03.07 Daily Mail, Employment Law, Local Authority Equal Pay

INS to Pay for Loss of Career Two interpreters who were 'forgotten' by the Immigration and Nationality Service (INS), given nothing to do for 15 years, are to be paid £2.5 for the loss of their careers, Employment Tribunal accepted sexual and racial discrimination and unfair dismissal 23.02.07 Daily Mail, Employment Law, Race Discrimination

Lawyer 'Wrecking' Equal Pay Settlement Local Government Employers are combining with Unison and GMB to try to stop lawyer Stefan Cross pursuing tens of thousands of equal pay claims on behalf of low-paid female workers 06.12.06 Personnel Today, Conditional Fee Agreements, Employment Law, Local Authority Equal Pay

Burden of Proof in Discrimination Cases Madarassy v Nomura case goes to Appeal Ct next week, seeks to establish burden of proof where there is adverse treatment of employ in protected status (race or sex) 27.10.06 Andrea Madarassy Press Release, Employment Law

No Right to Veil in Classroom Minister Phil Woolas and local MP Shahid Malik back school suspension of teaching assistant Aishah Azmi, claim she cannot do her job wearing veil 16.10.06 Times, Equality, Religious Discrimination, Dress Code, Begum v Denbigh High School, Education Law Links