West of Scotland councils last week took their fight against special school instructors to the Court of Session to avoid back payments totalling several million pounds that would spark a series of claims by education support staff.
Eight instructors, led by Jessica Marshall, now retired, are claiming equal pay with special school teachers and have successfully won verdicts at an industrial tribunal in Glasgow and an appeal tribunal in Edinburgh. The councils, all in the former Strathclyde Region, insist Strathclyde did not breach legislation under the Equal Pay Act.
Lord Rodger, the Lord President, Lord Prosser and Lord Cameron are expected to take several weeks to reach a verdict but a decision either way is almost certain to be challenged in the House of Lords.
