A NEW pay grading system for Glasgow City Council should be ready in three years’ time, the leader has said.

Susan Aitken said the maximum time it should take would be by the end of this council election term.

The City Administration Committee formally agreed to scrap the current Workforce Pay and Benefits Review (WPBR) system last Thursday.

The WPBR is liked to equal pay cases currently in the process of being settled with unions and legal representatives of the claimants.

Ms Aitken said: “My expectation and hope the settlement for claimants will be agreed before implementing a new pay grade system.”

When WPBR was introduced in 2007, it was supposed to tackle inequality in pay between genders.

However, it is argued it discriminates against women as female-dominated jobs like caring receive less than male-dominated, such as cleansing.

A new system is needed to avoid discrimination in pay and further legal battles.

In both May and June’s full council meetings, noisy protests by unions GMB and Unison have been held outside the city chambers.

In August last year the Court of Session ruled that it had not been established that WPBR was a valid job evaluation scheme.

As a result, the council does not have a valid defence against the numerous equal pay claims it is receiving.

Rather than amend the current scheme to fit in with the Equality Act, a new system is to be found.

There are others like the Red Book system used by many other Scottish local authorities or Agenda for Change from the NHS.

Ms Aitken, SNP council leader, added: “I am absolutely convinced this is a necessary step and if we don’t take it we will simply be continuing this pain, this reputational damage and I do believe discrimination, for many years to come.”

Councillor Matt Kerr of the Labour Party said: “I welcome this paper, it’s another milestone on the road.”

Councillor David Meikle of the Conservatives said: “My fear is there will be job losses as it will cost millions to bring in a new system.

“How will the council afford it?”