Women win equal pay case
A group of former Birmingham council employees this morning won a landmark equal pay case that could have "huge implications" for thousands of workers.
The Supreme Court ruled against the council's appeal against 174 women who had applied to challenge unequal pay through the civil courts, rather than through employment tribunals.
Under an employment tribunal the claimants could only seek pay backdated six months, but in the courts they can bring a claim dating back six years.
The women, among them former cooks and cleaners at the council, won their original case in November 2011.
A spokesman for law firm Leigh Day, which represented the claimants, said the move "could represent the most radical reform to Equal Pay since the original legislation was introduced" and will have "huge implications for thousands of workers".