Latest Public Sector News

26.06.18

Over 100 Birmingham council staff drop legal claims in major U-turn

Legal claims by over 100 Birmingham City Council staff members have been inexplicably dropped this week.

The multimillion-pound claims, spanning sexual discrimination and equal pay, were dropped with no clear reason for the decision given by employment tribunal records.

Claims of the U-turn, noted by a Birmingham Live reporter at the tribunal, were over eight separate cases and were dismissed last week after Judge Findlay announced they had all been withdrawn by staff members.

No reason was given for dropping the claims, and it is not confirmed as to whether out-of-court settlements have been made by the council.

In February this year Birmingham CC was said to be making cuts of £53m over the next year in an effort to balance the books. In September last year the council was forced to retain its improvement panel after widely-reported industrial action from refuse workers and resignation of its former leader John Clancy.

In the last decade alone, Birmingham Live noted, the authority has paid out £1.1bn in settling claims. Part of the funding of those payouts came from selling assets such as the NEC Exhibition centre and Grand Central Shopping Centre.

Birmingham City Council has declined to comment.

Enjoying PSE? Subscribe here to receive our weekly news updates or click here to receive a copy of the magazine!

Image credit: esp_editing, iStock images

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

related

public sector executive tv

more videos >

last word

Prevention: Investing for the future

Prevention: Investing for the future

Rob Whiteman, CEO at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance (CIPFA), discusses the benefits of long-term preventative investment. Rising demand, reducing resource – this has been the r more > more last word articles >

public sector focus

View all News

comment

Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >
How community-led initiatives can help save the housing shortage

19/06/2019How community-led initiatives can help save the housing shortage

Tom Chance, director at the National Community Land Trust Network, argues t... more >

interviews

Artificial intelligence: the devil is in the data

17/12/2018Artificial intelligence: the devil is in the data

It’s no secret that the public sector and its service providers need ... more >