UNION bosses have said they will consider industrial action ballots after criticising Glasgow City Council for breaking promises on settling equal pay claims of thousands of low paid women.

UNISON said it "cannot have confidence in any proposals that are reached" saying that they had chosen a settlement route that "excludes the claimants' side" and will produce nothing till November.

The union said that their dedication to negotiating a settlement "has not been met with equal effort from the council".

Thousands of current and former staff are expected to be entitled to a pay rise or backpay in compensation and some claim the issue could cost the council as much as £500m to resolve.

The union says the council had failed to meet time commitments and failed to accept the claimants' settlement.

The union says the council had failed to meet time commitments and failed to accept the claimants' settlement.

Officials accused the council of "breaking the commitments given in June after consultative strike ballots".

 A spokesman said: "We have therefore asked the council leader  to meet with the claimant side and reassure us that she remains fully committed to 'making sure the women get what they’re due'.

"Negotiated settlement is still our preferred option and we remain ready to engage in meaningful discussion.

"However, Unison is now considering its next steps including moving to industrial action ballots."

Council leader Susan Aitken insisted the council remains "100 per cent committed to delivering justice" for equal pay claimants who have been waiting for over a decade for this long-running issue to end. 

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She said the council will seek to have a settlement figure agreed with claimants’ representatives by the end of 2018. 

“No-one from either side has ever been under any illusion this process would be quick and easy, and the entrenchment of the competing positions over a decade cannot be undone overnight," she said.

“Nonetheless significant progress, backed by the democratic process of the council, has been made. This progress includes, ending the legal challenge, putting the political oversight which had been lacking, in place, holding fortnightly formal negotiating meetings; bringing Cordia, where most of the affected staff are employed, back into the council and harmonising their terms and conditions; and a decision taken to replace the councils entire pay and grading structure. 

“Furthermore, the process of sourcing how the council will fund the final settlement is now underway."

Glasgow City Council said at the start of the year that "negotiation not litigation" would solve the dispute having agreed not to appeal against a court decision last year over the grading system and said it would discuss a settlement with the unions.

The dispute centres on the way some jobs were graded several years ago.

It meant workers such as cleaners and care assistants may have been earning less than men in jobs deemed to be of equal value.

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Campaigners won a legal case in August when it was ruled that a pay re-grading scheme may have been less favourable for women workers.

The Court of Session refused the council's bid to appeal this judgement.

Ms Aitken added: “I’ve always been clear that I don’t believe the council has been paying men and women equally for the work they do. We need to compensate women for years of underpaying them, and we need a new pay and grading system that rewards everyone fairly.

“I know the claimants’ representatives are frustrated by the difficulties this process regularly throws up. 

“But I remain committed, and will continue to ensure the good faith which has facilitated the massive strides we have collectively made continues and that this long-running and complex matter is resolved as quickly as possible to the year-long timetable all parties agreed to at the beginning of the year."