The GMB union has won a landmark legal ruling over an equal pay discrimination case.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled the union was not guilty of discriminating against its women members when it negotiated settlements for equal pay claims.

The ruling could have far-reaching implications, both for unions and councils involved in reaching equal pay settlements.

It stems from a tribunal in June 2006 in which 100 Middlesbrough Council workers won a sex discrimination case, which had been brought by solicitor Stefan Cross.

The 2006 tribunal found the union had poorly represented the workers in a dispute over equal pay, which threatened to open the floodgates for further legal actions throughout the country.

‘This is a victory for common sense and equal pay,' said GMB national secretary for public services, Brian Strutton.

‘The GMB has always believed it hadn't acted against the interests of GMB members. This judgement clarifies the fact that collective agreements are the right way to deliver equal pay.

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

‘This prolonged legal action did not serve the interests of women in local government.

‘The GMB and others must all now work together to deliver the single-status agreement and through it, equal pay.

‘The real villains were employers who wouldn't cough-up on equal pay, and the Government that blocked them from doing so.' Mr Strutton said the union would now argue that 30 similar cases should all be withdrawn.

The GMB organiser for members at Middlesbrough Council, Maxine Batholomew, added: ‘Throughout the negotiations on single status, I did the best I could for all GMB members in Middlesbrough.'