The House of Lords has ruled in favour of 36 school dinner ladies who claimed they were victimised by St Helens Borough Council in Merseyside after they brought equal pay claims against the local authority. The women's fight for justice was backed throughout by their trade union the GMB.

In a damning verdict, the five law lords unanimously backed the women in their claims against the council for sex discrimination and victimisation. The result means that a tribunal will now assess the award due to the women which could be up to £10,000 each.

The women, along with 473 others, claimed equal pay with male road sweepers in 1998.

The majority accepted the terms of a settlement offered by the council but the remainder took their claim to an employment tribunal and won.

The tribunal awarded them £560,000 for their equal pay claim.

Source - GMB