Grading claims
UNISON wants to see fair pay and grading structures used by all employers. One of our most important roles as a trade union is helping our members to get the pay they deserve.
The Equal Act 2010 and, in Northern Ireland, the Equal Pay Act (NI) 1970 (as amended), demands that workers who equal work should receive the same pay.
Pay grade structures are widely used in the public sector to help to improve pay equality and transparency. Using pay grades reduces the likelihood of pay discrimination, giving a clear and simple system for deciding workers’ pay.
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How does UNISON support fair pay grading?
UNISON negotiates with employers to create fair and equal pay grading structures for members. This process often involves three elements:
- Job evaluation and new pay and grading structures.
- Compensation in the form of back pay for any past disadvantage.
- Pay protection – protecting the pay of people whose jobs are assessed at a lower grade in the new job evaluation scheme and are therefore deemed to have been overpaid in the past.
A fairer pay grading system ranks jobs according to things like the level of skill required, the amount of responsibility they demand or the amount of experience needed, as well as any formal qualifications required for the job.
This is the only information that should be used to decide how much the jobholder should be paid. This approach makes it easier to produce a grade and pay structure that is fair, even though it might cover lots of different types of job.
UNISON works with employers on job evaluation exercises to expose pay inequalities.
In Northern Ireland, back pay for equal pay claims is normally limited to three years, rather than the six-year period used in England and Wales and five-year period for Scotland.
Taking on individual cases
The law surrounding pay grading is complex and employers may take a long time to make changes. For these reasons it can be more effective to tackle individual cases than try to change the rules for everyone. Your UNISON rep will guide you through the rules that cover making a grading claim.
Frequently asked questions
In Northern Ireland, the Green Book also applies to various education and library boards.
The Scottish local government joint council agreement, known as the Red Book, contains pay and conditions details for 250,000 Scottish local government workers.
The terms have been negotiated by local government employers and union representatives. If you would like a copy, email [email protected].
The system was negotiated by Government health departments and UNISON, together with other health unions.
Legal disclaimer
The information contained within this article is not a complete or final statement of the law and is based on the laws of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
While UNISON has sought to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date, it is not responsible and will not be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences, including any loss arising from relying on this information. If you are a UNISON member with a legal problem, please contact your branch or region as soon as possible for advice, or for non-employment matters call UNISONdirect.