Earlier today a press release was issued by GMB outlining legal claims made against the council in relation to equal pay.
Jess Gibbons, our chief executive, has said the following in response: "This council is committed to being a fair and inclusive employer. Our staff are our biggest asset. As a council we will do all we can to make sure they continue to be treated with fairness and respect.
"If there are genuine equal pay claims we will address them. We did that with an equal pay settlement related to bank holiday working brought to us by UNISON and will do so again if necessary.
"We have always tried to retain positive working relations with both UNISON and GMB and to act promptly on any information provided to us by them.
"It is important to point out we have made multiple requests to GMB for information relating to the equal pay claims they are making which have been outlined in the media today. The council has not received any details from GMB.
"We will look at any information provided to us and continue to encourage our recognised unions to work with us at an early stage and provide any information they have to support us in proactively addressing any concerns over equal pay and any other workplace issues.
"If there are issues that need to be addressed we would work with both trade unions and apply the resolution to any affected staff member in either UNISON or GMB, or staff who are not members of either union."