Employers warned over rights of female workers

EMPLOYERS could face a "landslide" of legal claims if they do not assess how public sector cuts will affect female workers.

Unison said cuts would have a disproportionate effect on women, who made up the majority of workers in the sector.

The union said it will use an equality duty on employers to take legal action against any not carrying out equality impact assessments before cutting jobs and public services.

General secretary Dave Prentis said: "The vast majority of Unison members are women and we have spent decades fighting for equal pay and to ensure that women are treated fairly in the workplace.

"We will not stand back and see all that work undone by councils cutting jobs indiscriminately.

"The battle for Britain's public services could tie up our already overstretched legal system for decades, if employers do not carry out equality impact assessments.

"It is easy to see that women are in the firing line when it comes to public sector job cuts and that is not acceptable."