האגודה הישראלית לחקר יחסי עבודה

the law says GMB.

GMB’s lawyers, Leigh Day, have added Rotherwood Healthcare, Bowood Care Homes and Avery Homes (Lucas Court) to the ongoing legal proceedings in the High Court to win equal pay for 73 members employed in female dominated, predominately caring roles. (See notes to editors for previous press releases on the High Court Claim).

GMB consider that these members are employed to carry out equal work to that carried out by men employed by Avery whose terms and conditions are more favourable than those of these members.

Avery Homes is part of Avery Healthcare Group which runs 44 care homes in Staffordshire (7), Northamptonshire (6), Birmingham (4), Kent (2), Nottingham (2), Surrey (2), West Yorkshire (2), and one care home in each area of Cheshire, Coventry, Derby, Hampshire, Harrow, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Manchester, Milton Keynes, North Yorkshire, Somerset, Stoke-on-Trent, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tyne & Wear, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Wimbledon and Wolverhampton.

Rotherwood Healthcare runs 6 homes in Hereford (3), Shropshire (2) and Worcestershire. Bowood Care Homes Ltd and Avery (Lucas Court) operate one care home each in Worcestershire and Southampton respectively. (See full list and addresses in notes to editors)

Justin Bowden, GMB national secretary, said "As the latest step in GMB’s campaign to make Avery Homes pay their staff fairly, rather than paying most of them less because they are women, we have instructed our lawyers Leigh Day to add Rotherwood Healthcare, Bowood Care Homes and Avery Homes to the High Court legal proceedings. Despite their pivotal role caring for residents, Avery Healthcare has paid female workers substantially less than their male counterparts for years.

The fact that female workers have ended up worse off simply because of their gender is not only an outrage in the 21st century but against the law and GMB intends to make sure that these workers get what they deserve.

Every one of the 2,000 plus women Avery Healthcare, Rotherwood Healthcare, Bowood Care employs may have a claim for hundreds or thousands of pounds of compensation going back up to 6 years. GMB is appealing to all current and former employees to come forward so we can assess if they may be entitled to compensation.”

Chris Benson, acting for the GMB legal team, said "Female members of GMB working as carers for local authorities have secured equal pay with the support of the Union. Many also received back pay as well as better terms and conditions going forward.

Those care staff compared themselves against jobs done by men such as caretakers and other male dominated roles.

Carers working for Avery believe they are also underpaid and with the assistance of GMB have issued claims to ensure they too receive equal pay. The claims, which go back up to 6 years, could see members recover thousands of pounds in back pay they have been denied.

GMB will also be working to negotiate better terms and conditions and hope Avery sit down and negotiate a proper wage for the female carers equal to that received by male caretakers who work in the same care homes.

The carers provide an invaluable service looking after vulnerable individuals who most need our support and assistance. It is only right those carrying out such work are properly rewarded and not underpaid because of their gender."

End

Contact: Justin Bowden on 07970 863411 or GMB press office on 07970 863411 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Notes to editors

3 GMB press release dated Monday, March 21, 2016

GMB Launches First 87 High Court Claims Against Avery Homes (Nelson) Ltd For Equal Pay For Women Members Employed In Care Homes In England

Paying women less than men in comparable roles is discrimination and against the law says GMB.

GMB has instructed Leigh Day to issue legal proceedings at the High Court today, Monday 21 March 2016, to win equal pay for 87 members employed by Avery Homes (Nelson) Ltd in female dominated, predominately caring roles. (See notes to editors for previous press release)

GMB consider that these members are employed to carry out equal work to that carried out by men employed by Avery whose terms and conditions are more favourable than those of these members.

Avery Homes run 45 care homes in Staffordshire (7), Northamptonshire (6), Birmingham (4), Kent (2), Nottingham (2), Surrey (2), West Yorkshire (2), Worcestershire (2) and one care home in each area of Cheshire, Coventry, Derby, Hampshire, Harrow, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Manchester, Milton Keynes, North Yorkshire, Somerset, Stoke-on-Trent, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tyne & Wear, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Wolverhampton. (See full list and addresses in notes to editors)

Chris Benson, acting for the GMB legal team, said "Female members of GMB working as carers for local authorities have secured equal pay with the support of their union. Many also received back pay as well as better terms and conditions going forward.

Those care staff compared themselves against jobs done by men such as caretakers and other male dominated roles.

Carers working for Avery believe they are also underpaid and with the assistance of GMB have issued claims to ensure they too receive equal pay. The claims, which go back up to 6 years, could see members recover thousands of pounds in back pay they have been denied.

GMB will also be working to negotiate better terms and conditions and hope Avery sit down and negotiate a proper wage for the female carers equal to that received by male caretakers who work in the same care homes.

The carers provide an invaluable service looking after vulnerable individuals who most need our support and assistance. It is only right those carrying out such work are properly rewarded and not underpaid because of their gender."

Justin Bowden, GMB national officer for the care sector, said "Avery Healthcare has 45 care homes and employs over 2,000 women as carers and in other vital frontline roles, yet chooses to pay them less than men it employs in comparable roles. That is discrimination and it is against the law.

Every one of the 2,000 women Avery Healthcare employs may have a claim for hundreds or thousands of pounds of compensation going back up to 6 years. GMB is appealing to all current and former employees of Avery to come forward so we can assess if they may be entitled to compensation."

End

4 GMB press release dated Wednesday, December 2, 2015

GMB Instruct Lawyers To Begin Legal Action For Equal Pay For Women Members Employed By Avery Health Care In 15 Care Homes In England

The level of discrimination by the Avery Healthcare Group is quite breath-taking and we intend to seek compensation of six year’s back-pay for these members in the High Court says GMB.

GMB has instructed Leigh Day to begin legal proceedings to win equal pay for 62 members employed by Avery Healthcare Limited in female dominated predominately caring roles.

GMB consider that these members are employed to carry out equal work to that carried out by men employed by Avery whose terms and conditions are more favourable than those of these members.

Avery Homes run 15 care homes in Cheshire, Hampshire, Kent (2), London, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire (2), North Yorkshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Surrey, Wiltshire and Worcestershire (2). See list in notes to editors

Chris Benson, a partner at the law firm Leigh Day the UK’s leading employment firm advising claimants and trade unions on Equal Pay, said "Despite our extensive experience in the field of equal pay we were shocked to see the inequality between female carers and male staff undertaking work of equal value within care homes run by Avery.

Within days of speaking to the GMB, Leigh Day now represent over 60 carers with the final number possibly in excess of a 1000 claims as the full scale of the unlawful payments offered to carers becomes clear.

While it is recognised in some sectors that women are undervalued and underpaid I did not expect to see this happen in care homes.

These women carry out the most important role in this organisation, caring for vulnerable residents. Time and again it has been shown that care staff perform a difficult job under a lot of pressure to ensure the best possible care is provided. The fact that Avery should pay these female staff members less than jobs predominantly done by men is astonishing.”

Justin Bowden, GMB national officer for the care sector, said "Paying somebody less for the job they do because they are a woman was outlawed in Britain in 1970, yet incredibly - some 45 years after the Equal Pay Act was passed - Avery Healthcare are paying female carers and other vital frontline staff they employ hundreds of pounds a year less than males in equal occupations.

The level of sex discrimination displayed by the Avery Healthcare Group towards these women they employ is breath-taking. GMB intends to seek compensation of six years back-pay for these members in the High Court."

End

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