Former female employees of Birmingham City Council can launch compensation claims over missed bonuses, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Up to 174 former council staff members will now be entitled to submit claims after the authority denied female employees bonuses similar to those given to traditionally male-dominated jobs such as road work and grave digging.
Between 2007 and 2008, tens of thousands of pounds was paid in compensation to female council employees still employed by Birmingham City Council and to those that had recently left the authority.
The Supreme Court today rejected an appeal from the council which argued that compensation claims should have been made within six months.
Staff will now be allowed six years to submit their claims to the civil courts.
Lawyers for the women called the verdict a ‘landmark’, stating that it could have ‘huge implications’.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: ‘The council is reviewing this judgement in detail before considering its options.’
