More than 1,700 women cooks, cleaners and carers yesterday won a multi-million pound compensation claim over equal pay.
An employment tribunal found 1,771 women, employed by Cumbria County Council, were paid less than men doing the same job.
It ruled they should have been paid higher wages or bonuses since the early 1990s.
Talks will now be held over the level of compensation, which will depend on length of service, but the total bill will be millions of pounds.
Around 1,000 cases were unsuccessful because jobs could not be compared to any men on the same grade working for the authority.
Another 293 claims are to be looked at by independent experts.
Unison's regional women's officer Sharon Mee said: "Those 1,771 women have been told by the tribunal that they had been treated unfairly and were being paid less than men doing equal jobs for the same employer.
"This has been an arduous, time-consuming and draining process for the women. We are delighted that more than half of the cases we have fought have been successful."
GMB organiser Ged Caig added: "Our members have been discriminated against and they must now have the money paid to them for the work they have done over the years."
