COUNCIL chiefs in Bury have appealed against a ruling that female workers, who for years have missed out on performance-related bonus payments, should receive compensation.

Around 1,400 women employees, including cleaners, cooks and support workers, stood to gain thousands of pounds after winning an equal pay claim at an employment tribunal.

They said it was unfair that for years they had not enjoyed the same monetary benefits as workers in traditionally male-dominated roles.

Bury Council has already spent £620,000 on legal costs to fight the case, but now faces an even bigger bill to cover the appeal.

A spokesman said: “This decision to appeal has not been taken lightly. The council is keenly aware of its duty to safeguard taxpayers’ money, a responsibility it takes seriously at all times. The decision to lodge an appeal was based upon leading counsel's advice.

“The council has spent £620,000 defending this case. These costs have to be looked at in the light of 1,400 claims which, if successful, could run into many millions of pounds to the taxpayer.

“We now await the decision of the judge at the employment appeal tribunal who will consider how the appeal is to proceed. We anticipate the hearing of the appeal will take place in the spring of 2010.”

Female workers have spent years campaigning for compensation, led by their union, Unison.

Frank Hont, Unison’s North West regional secretary, urged the council to reconsider its decision to appeal against the ruling.

He added: “On the day the council revealed that they have already spent over £600,000 on legal costs, the news that they now plan to waste even more council tax payers’ money by appealing against the decision is nothing short of a disgrace.”

The dispute affects workers in jobs traditionally done by women which have not attracted productivity bonuses paid to male workers in equivalent areas, for example refuse collection.

At an employment tribunal held in Manchester last month, the council’s claim that the men were paid more because of a genuine material factor, rather than because of the workers’ sex, was rejected.

The tribunal ruled that the women should be given compensation to cover the pay gap with male colleagues such as refuse collectors, labourers and gardeners.

After the ruling, the council’s chief executive, Mark Sanders, warned there could be “wholesale” jobs cuts because the local authority would struggle to pay the millions of pounds to settle the claims.