The TSSA rail union has launched a multi-million pound equal pay claim against Network Rail, which the union believes is the largest in rail history. The union has launched a pathfinder claim covering 30 female managers who it is alleged are being paid between £3,000 and £4,000 a year less than their male colleagues doing the same job. If the initial claim succeeds, there are another 3,000 female managers who will also be in line for big pay rises to bring them into line with the men. The union estimate that the final bill could be over £10 million a year if the union wins the case at the Leeds Employment Tribunal in the autumn.

From 1 October 2013 tribunals will be obliged to order employers who have been found in breach of the equal pay provisions in the Equality Act 2010 to carry out equal pay audits, unless one of the permitted exceptions applies. Readers will receive a legal development alert summarising the new legislation nearer the implementation date.

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