Brighton and Hove City Council will adjust bank holiday pay for more than 800 staff in response to calls from Unison.

The trade union said the issue started in 2013 when a bank holiday payment, the Resident’s Services Guarantee (RSG), was negotiated for the predominantly male workers in refuse and recycling.

Most employees also working bank holidays but not receiving the RSG were women, often in the care sector, Unison said.

Affected staff will be given 70.5% of the past six years’ total back pay and a 100% top-up payment to equalise bank holiday pay in future, Brighton’s strategy, finance and city regeneration committee agreed.

Council leader Bella Sankey said: ‘We entered into discussions with both our recognised trade unions to try and reach agreement on a reasonable settlement offer to all our staff who work bank holidays.

‘We’re settling proactively because we believe this is the right thing to do for our valued staff and ensures payments can be made quickly which is even more important during a cost-of-living crisis.’

Brighton & Hove Unison joint branch secretary Corinna Edwards-Colledge said: ‘Equalising bank holiday pay for all staff has been long overdue.

‘It was wrong and unfair to shortchange people who worked so hard to provide vital care and services to the city’s most vulnerable residents and the wider community.

‘As people struggle with rising bills and the cost of living crisis, this pay boost will make a real difference to council staff.

‘Unison’s next priority is to secure a better deal for Brighton and Hove’s care workers that properly reflects and rewards the complexity and challenges of their work.’