A bitter feud has erupted between a Birmingham MP and a city councillor over pay reviews at the nation’s biggest council.
Labour MP Sion Simon slated the Conservative-led council in the House of Commons over the implementation of single status and equal pay legislation, calling for a day of debates on the matter.
He said: ‘That could include, the cynical abuse and misapplication of progressive single status legislation by the Tory-Liberal council in Birmingham in order to cut the pay of low-paid workers and clobber the pensions of low-paid council employees.’
Now the council’s cabinet member for equalities and human resources has demanded an apology and retraction claiming the MP’s statement in the Commons on July 10 was ‘untrue, biased and divisive’.
In a letter to the MP, Cllr Alan Rudge said: ‘You have either ignored, forgotten or chosen to misrepresent the briefings given to you.
‘We have achieved a modern and gender-fair pay structure in stark contrast to the outdated and unfair system inherited from your party.
‘We have been at pains to protect the few who may suffer.
‘You should withdraw the offending statements and apologise to Birmingham City Council in the House.’
Cllr Rudge claimed there was ‘no logical reason’ why the MP should criticise the council’s efforts to implement the legislation.
And he pointed out none of the other Birmingham MPs had criticised the council over this.
He told The MJ he is still awaiting a reply from Mr Simon.
The pay reviews carried out at Birmingham, along with all other councils in the country, were introduced in response to Equal Pay legislation, which states men and women should receive equal salaries for equivalent jobs.
Labour MP Sion Simon slated the Conservative-led council in the House of Commons over the implementation of single status and equal pay legislation, calling for a day of debates on the matter.
He said: ‘That could include, the cynical abuse and misapplication of progressive single status legislation by the Tory-Liberal council in Birmingham in order to cut the pay of low-paid workers and clobber the pensions of low-paid council employees.’
Now the council’s cabinet member for equalities and human resources has demanded an apology and retraction claiming the MP’s statement in the Commons on July 10 was ‘untrue, biased and divisive’.
In a letter to the MP, Cllr Alan Rudge said: ‘You have either ignored, forgotten or chosen to misrepresent the briefings given to you.
‘We have achieved a modern and gender-fair pay structure in stark contrast to the outdated and unfair system inherited from your party.
‘We have been at pains to protect the few who may suffer.
‘You should withdraw the offending statements and apologise to Birmingham City Council in the House.’
Cllr Rudge claimed there was ‘no logical reason’ why the MP should criticise the council’s efforts to implement the legislation.
And he pointed out none of the other Birmingham MPs had criticised the council over this.
He told The MJ he is still awaiting a reply from Mr Simon.
The pay reviews carried out at Birmingham, along with all other councils in the country, were introduced in response to Equal Pay legislation, which states men and women should receive equal salaries for equivalent jobs.
