About 5,000 female council staff have won their case for equal pay at an employment tribunal.

The women, who include cleaners, cooks and care assistants, were all employed by Birmingham City Council.

Unions said the women may be owed £30m in back-pay because bonuses were paid only to male counterparts. Solicitors said the pay-out could be up to £600m.

The Unison union said it was a “major” victory. The council said the ruling related to its old bonus structure.

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Obituary by Harry Downes. Hon. FMS

It is with great sadness that I report the death of ARTHUR HULME Hon. FMS. Arthur passed away suddenly but peacefully on Sunday14th March 2010 aged 94. He will be fondly remembered by all his colleagues in the NHS and IMS. He was married to Vera for over 60 years, they were not blessed with any children. Arthur was a proud Lancastrian and moved south to join the NHS.

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Coverage: United Kingdom

Theme: The Economy

Whole economy output per worker decreased by 1.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with the same quarter a year ago, up from a fall of 3.3 per cent seen in the previous quarter.

On a quarter on previous quarter basis, output per worker increased by 0.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009, up from a fall of 0.2 per cent in the previous quarter.
Unit wage costs for the whole economy in the fourth quarter of 2009 increased by 2.4 per cent compared with the same quarter a year ago, down from growth of 4.2 per cent in the previous quarter.

Source: Office for National Statistics [Date: 31 March 2010]