The GMB trade union has announced a landmark victory in the fight for workplace equality, having secured more than £1 billion in back pay for female employees across the UK in 2025 alone.
A Historic Injustice Corrected
The substantial sum represents money owed to hundreds of thousands of women, predominantly in local government roles such as care work, cleaning, and school catering. For years, these positions were systematically graded lower or given inferior terms than male-dominated jobs like refuse collection, despite being assessed as of equal value.
Rhea Wolfson, the GMB’s Head of Industrial Relations, stated that the situation remains a “source of national shame”, coming more than five decades after the landmark Equal Pay Act was introduced. The payments finally deliver rightful compensation to those who were underpaid compared to their male counterparts for years.
The Fight for Fair Pay Continues
Despite this billion-pound achievement, the campaign for fair remuneration is far from over. The union reports that approximately 40,000 claims are still outstanding across 28 different local authorities. The GMB estimates these unresolved cases could be worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
Furthermore, the union anticipates launching an additional 10,000 new claims throughout the current year, indicating that systemic pay disparities persist in many sectors.
A Warning to Employers for 2026
Ms. Wolfson issued a direct challenge to employers, signalling the union's unwavering commitment. “Employers need to take note in 2026 – wherever GMB sees women being underpaid compared to men, in the public or private sector, we are coming for you,” she declared.
This statement underscores the GMB's intention to broaden its focus beyond local government, targeting pay inequality wherever it exists. The union's successful litigation this year sets a powerful precedent and serves as a stark warning to organisations that have not yet addressed gender pay gaps within their workforce.
