A report on the success of Sandra Winton's tribunal case against Northern Ireland Electricity. Winton was a clerical mains record assistant and earned £2,000 less than industrial workers at Northern Ireland Electricity doing the same job. Clerical workers were largely female, while Industrial workers were mainly male. This inequality continued throughout employment at the company.
The Tribunal found under the principle of Equal Pay for
Work of Equal Value that Winton was due several thousand pounds in back pay and
an increased salary. It took five years to win the case. Winton's colleagues
are also embarking on similar claims and are confident they will win as she has
set the groundwork.
Winton is humble
about her achievement and efforts, and expresses solidarity with her
co-workers: "if they're happy then I'm happy."