Keeping cash you are owed

Letter: Your article "Council workers urged to claim by action for equality" (June 7) fails to mention that these no-win no-fee (NWNF) lawyers will take up to 30 per cent of any compensation they might win for women.

In contrast, Unison takes its members' cases for free, so women keep all their money.

NWNF lawyers do not establish equal pay for now and the future, they take claims for back pay and those with the best chance of success. We will and do litigate, but the best way to achieve equal and fair pay is through collective bargaining. Successful tribunal cases, while welcome, can have only a random effect, leaving those not part of the action underpaid.

Councillor Wendy Thompson got her facts wrong. The previous Labour council successfully applied for permission to raise money to cover back pay awards. This 'capitalisation', won by UNISON and TUC unions campaigning together, has allowed 46 local councils including Wolverhampton to raise £500m. Most of our members have accepted compromise pay outs, without that money coming from council taxpayers.

UNISON is proud of its role in representing 6,000 hard working council staff who do important and demanding jobs for the people of Wolverhampton. We will continue to do so despite the opportunism of NWNF lawyers and Tory councillors.

Tony Rabaiotti, Policy services manager, UNISON West Midlands.