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| Thousands of Asda workers win major step in equal pay claim battle | Thousands of Asda workers win major step in equal pay claim battle |
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| A landmark employment tribunal case has ruled that thousands of lower paid female workers can proceed with their claims for equal pay against Asda in the UK’s largest-ever private sector equal pay case. | A landmark employment tribunal case has ruled that thousands of lower paid female workers can proceed with their claims for equal pay against Asda in the UK’s largest-ever private sector equal pay case. |
| The decision by the employment tribunal in Manchester, will allow over 7000 female staff members who work in Asda stores to compare themselves to higher paid men who work at warehouses. | The decision by the employment tribunal in Manchester, will allow over 7000 female staff members who work in Asda stores to compare themselves to higher paid men who work at warehouses. |
| If the claims are successful, female workers could collectively recover more than £100 million in back, going back to 2002 as well as get pay rises in the future. | |
| The women feel they are paid less than their men colleagues, despite their roles being of equal value. | The women feel they are paid less than their men colleagues, despite their roles being of equal value. |
| Lauren Lougheed, a lawyer in the employment team who is representing the claimants, said the judgement was a “dramatic victory” for workers. | Lauren Lougheed, a lawyer in the employment team who is representing the claimants, said the judgement was a “dramatic victory” for workers. |
| She said: “Asda tried to argue that because the shops and distribution centres were in different locations, with different pay arrangements, that Asda could pay the men what they like. | She said: “Asda tried to argue that because the shops and distribution centres were in different locations, with different pay arrangements, that Asda could pay the men what they like. |
| “However, the employment tribunal found that Asda, the employer of both men and women, could have made sure that there was equal pay between men and women if they wanted to, but chose not to.” | “However, the employment tribunal found that Asda, the employer of both men and women, could have made sure that there was equal pay between men and women if they wanted to, but chose not to.” |
| "This judgment will have far reaching implications on other supermarket equal pay claims including those we are bringing on behalf of around 400 Sainsbury's workers who are in a similar situation." | "This judgment will have far reaching implications on other supermarket equal pay claims including those we are bringing on behalf of around 400 Sainsbury's workers who are in a similar situation." |
| Asda responded that it will continue to strongly dispute the claims, adding the outcome of the tribunal on Friday was a “technical issue” and did not "determine the eventual outcome of the case". | Asda responded that it will continue to strongly dispute the claims, adding the outcome of the tribunal on Friday was a “technical issue” and did not "determine the eventual outcome of the case". |
| Asda said: " "The tribunal has yet to consider whether the jobs are of equal value in terms of their demands and if some jobs are, only then will the tribunal move on to consider the reasons for the differentials, including the existence of different market rates in different industry sectors," the supermarket said. | Asda said: " "The tribunal has yet to consider whether the jobs are of equal value in terms of their demands and if some jobs are, only then will the tribunal move on to consider the reasons for the differentials, including the existence of different market rates in different industry sectors," the supermarket said. |
| "We continue to strongly dispute the claims being made against us. We believe that the demands of the jobs are very different and are considering our options for appeal." | "We continue to strongly dispute the claims being made against us. We believe that the demands of the jobs are very different and are considering our options for appeal." |
| "Pay rates in stores differ from pay rates in distribution centres for legitimate reasons, including the different market rates for different jobs in different sectors." | "Pay rates in stores differ from pay rates in distribution centres for legitimate reasons, including the different market rates for different jobs in different sectors." |
| Stuart Jones, Partner and head of employment at Weightmans, said: “There’s no denying today’s ruling is significant but there’s no need to jump the gun – this preliminary hearing has only ruled that the store and warehouse jobs are comparable – we will have to wait and see whether these employees are entitled to equal pay. This test case will be watched incredibly carefully by supermarkets and their employees alike. Equal pay is an important issue at the moment and this case will serve as a milestone.” |