COUNCIL staff will receive equal pay offers within the next couple of weeks, the Glasgow Times can reveal.

Just 24 hours after Glasgow City Council was quizzed on when offers would be put to workers, it has now been revealed staff representatives will receive payment figures within 14 days.

It’s understood the HMRC prompted delays to the process as tax and national insurance calculations were taking place, however, arrangements have now been agreed meaning payments will be able to start as early as next month.

Negotiations remain ongoing with some smaller claimant groups, however, the local authority is hoping to resolve the issues imminently to allow all offers to be processed in June.

As previously reported in the Glasgow Times, claimants have waited months to determine when the lump sums would arrive.

An admin worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It's very frustrating because we've already had the hassle of fighting for equal pay and now, we're left waiting for it for nearly a year.

"We can't plan for it as we have no idea how much we're getting or when it's coming and there just hasn't been enough communication.”

Fed-up staff said the waiting period was “ridiculous” as they were unable to plan when or how much cash they would receive.

The council agreed a £770million arrangement with unions late last year and made the controversial decision to sell off beloved buildings and lease them back to raise the cash, including the City Chambers.

An email sent to staff, which has been seen by the Glasgow Times, confirms the long-awaited timescale.

It states: “When we last updated you on equal pay claims we said that we were working on agreeing the details that will allow the majority of individual offers to be calculated. We are pleased to say that the main parties involved have now signed a formal agreement concluding the details and that HM Revenue and Customs have also confirmed the tax and national insurance arrangements.

“This means that individual offers will be made to the claimants’ representatives within 14 days, who in turn will communicate them to their claimants and that payments can start from July ... This brings an end to the long-running equal pay litigation against the council and is another step towards the council’s commitment to make sure that everyone is paid equally for equal work.”

Council boss Susan Aitken praised the news.

She said: “I’m very, very pleased that the council has today been able to tell staff that the detailed work on the final tranche of the equal pay settlement is now complete – and payments to claimants can begin next month.

“This is a really big milestone in work that began back in 2017. It brings to an end the long-running litigation against the council and is another huge step towards finally eradicating the legacy of pay discrimination against our women workers.”