UNION bosses have hit out at Glasgow City Council for dragging its heels over equal pay claim negotiations.

UNISON said its "dedication", alongside other unions and lawyers, to negotiating a settlement for thousands of workers, has "not been met with equal effort from the council."

The statement comes after talks on Tuesday after which, the union said the council had failed to meet time commitments; failed to accept the claimants' settlement route and have chosen a move that will delay proceedings until November.

A spokesman for UNISON said: "We cannot have confidence in any proposals that are reached without our involvement and are then presented at the 11th hour to put pressure on the claimants.

"This is not what the council Leader promised in January, not what the council politicians decided and breaks the commitments given in June after the consultative strike ballots.

"We have therefore asked the council Leader to meet with the claimant side and reassure us that she remains fully committed to 'making sure the women get what they’re due'.

"Negotiated settlement is still our preferred option and we remain ready to engage in meaningful discussion."

The spokesman said the next step could now involve moving to industrial action ballots with a decision expected in the coming days.

The courts found Glasgow City Council had discriminated against its women workers and a battle has been ongoing for 10 years to recompense them.

Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council said: "I, and the City Council I lead, remain 100 per cent committed to delivering justice for equal pay claimants who have been waiting for over a decade for this long-running issue to end.

"The council will seek to have a settlement figure agreed with claimants’ representatives by the end of 2018.

"No-one from either side has ever been under any illusion this process would be quick and easy, and the entrenchment of the competing positions over a decade cannot be undone overnight."

Ms Aitken claims progress by the council has been made and cited ending an ongoing legal challenge; holding fortnightly formal negotiating sessions; bringing Cordia back into council control; and replacing the council pay and grading structure.

She added: "I’ve always been clear that I don’t believe the council has been paying men and women equally for the work they do.

"We need to compensate women for years of underpaying them, and we need a new pay and grading system that rewards everyone fairly.

"I know the claimants’ representatives are frustrated by the difficulties this process regularly throws up.

"But I remain committed, and will continue to ensure the good faith which has facilitated the massive strides we have collectively made continues and that this long-running and complex matter is resolved as quickly as possible to the year-long timetable all parties agreed to at the beginning of the year."