One of the country’s biggest trade unions did not discriminate against female members in its negotiations on equal pay claims, an Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled today.

The GMB victory could have an impact on dozens of other claims against other public sector unions who were accused of not battling hard enough to win equal pay for women from local authority employers.

At a previous employment tribunal, which found against the GMB, claimants successfully argued that the union had placed more attention on protecting men’s pay.

The case - known as Allan - was brought by Middlesbrough Council workers angry about how the union negotiated bringing in Single Status pay.

The process, which is happening across the country in the public sector, sees employers re-evaluate salaries to bring about equal pay for men and women. It involved a period of pay protection for workers who faced a loss of earnings.

Women members of the GMB claimed the union failed them by concentrating on the interest of men, and not on winning them back-pay.

An employment tribunal in Newcastle in June last year ruled the women were indirect victims of sex discrimination by the union.

But that decision was overturned on appeal this morning.

The GMB said: “This is a victory for common sense and equal pay. GMB has always believed that it hadn’t acted against the interests of GMB members.

“This judgment clarifies the fact that collective agreements are the right way to deliver equal pay.

“GMB will now carry on with renewed vigour the task of securing equal pay throughout local government.

Mr Strutton said the union will argue that similar cases should be withdrawn following the appeal.

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