Understand
Hundreds of Sunderland care workers vote for strike action in equal pay dispute
Overview
More than 300 care workers employed at Sunderland Care and Support have voted in favour of industrial action in an indicative ballot over an equal pay dispute. The GMB union states that the predominantly female workforce is paid less per hour and denied access to a more generous local authority pension scheme compared to male council workers. A full ballot is scheduled for the coming days, while Sunderland City Council has stated it is continuing to engage in discussions to reach a resolution.
Key points
- More than 300 staff at Sunderland Care and Support voted in favour of strike action in an indicative ballot.
- A full ballot on industrial action will be held in the coming days.
- The GMB union states the predominantly female workers face lower hourly pay and lack access to the pension scheme available to predominantly male council workers.
- Sunderland City Council stated it is following due process and remains focused on reaching a resolution through meaningful dialogue.