Why only 6 years back pay?

One of the most frequent questions people ask is: "If Single Status goes back to 1998, why do I have a claim for only 6 instead of 10 years back pay?"

The answer is that the law of the land - The Statute of Limitations - prevents people from going back in time more than 6 years in a dispute over financial matters.

So, people's claims are limited to a maximum of 6 years in terms of back pay - when common sense and fairness suggests that 10 years should apply.

In Scotland, the position is even worse - the Statute of Limitations runs to only 5 years north of the border - because Scotland has its own legal system and rules.

However, this statutory restriction normally just serves to make people even angrier - because it's the combined failure of the employers and the trade unions - that's cost so many women workers the additional 4 years.

And to add insult to injury - the unions and the employers are still trying to pull the wool over people's eyes:

1. by failing to explain the true value of their claims
2. by encouraging their members not to rock the boat
3. by allowing their members to accept poor 'one-off ' settlements
4. by continuing to favour the male workers on issues like protection - so the women lose out again

So, 6 years is the maximum back pay claim - and although the law restricts your claim - the real villains of the piece are much closer to home.

But 6 years is a hell of a lot better than nothing at all - and that's exactly what was on offer - until Action 4 Equality and Stefan Cross came along.