An MP has written to the Archbishop of Birmingham urging him to end the apparent “injustice” of staff in Catholic schools missing out on a bumper windfall of up to £7,000.
Liam Byrne, MP for Hodge Hill, has contacted the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols on behalf of one of his constituents, whose daughter works as a lunchtime supervisor at a city school.
More than 2,500 playground supervisors at Birmingham primary schools are to receive up to £7,000 each after settling an equal pay claim.
The deal with the city council follows months of negotiations over Single Status – an initiative to outlaw wage differentials between men and women.
But it does not apply to voluntary aided schools, such as Church schools, which operate as separate employers to the local authority. Mr Byrne has taken up the case of Samantha Carroll, who works at Our Lady’s Catholic Primary in Tile Cross as a lunchtime supervisor.
In his letter to the Archbishop, the MP said: “Samantha’s mother tells me a recent test case has resulted in people employed in similar positions being awarded back-pay for systematic underpayment, but Catholic schools are not implementing this decision.
“In the light of this information, I would be very grateful if you could review this matter and let me know why this is, and how this – apparent – injustice can be remedied.”
