The Law Society president is guilty of making extremely derogatory and ill-informed claims about the role of trade unions in equal pay cases.

Even a cursory glance at the numerous appellate level equal pay cases would have immediately confirmed to the president that most are run by unions. A telephone call to any trade union legal officer would have informed him that all these union cases are run by solicitors, normally in tandem with the most reputable QCs currently practising in the UK.

Further, a quick look at the statistics in the employment tribunals would show that more than 40,000 equal pay cases are currently being run by unions – all free as part of membership subscription.

Finally, had he wanted to have a quick chat, I would have been most happy to come to Chancery Lane and let the president know that all our ‘equal pay deals’ are scrutinised in detail by solicitors who are expert in the area of equal pay before they are ever signed off by the union.

Adam D Crème, head of legal services (solicitor), Unison