Margaret Evelyn McFarland v Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council [2014]

There were three elements to this claim; the first for equal pay, the second claim for uplift of damages due to the respondent’s alleged failure to comply with the grievance process, and thirdly, a claim of unlawful discrimination on the basis of the claimant’s part-time status. 

The claimant was employed as a part-time caretaker and cleaner. Both the claimant and her male comparator, Mr McGlinchey, had job descriptions with the same wording for the main purpose of their jobs and it was agreed by a number of respondents that the duties of both were broadly similar. 

A job evaluation scheme was carried out in relation to all posts within the respondent organisation by an independent