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Asda swimming against tide in dispute over 'women's work' Asda swimming against tide in dispute over 'women's work'
(about 5 hours later)
“Women’s work.” “Women’s work.” 
That used to be a thing in the labour market. That used to be a thing in the labour market. 
There were jobs that were seen as suitable for women. And there were jobs seen as suitable for men.There were jobs that were seen as suitable for women. And there were jobs seen as suitable for men.
Even if the roles were of similar importance, and of a similar grade, it goes without saying that the women would get paid less.Even if the roles were of similar importance, and of a similar grade, it goes without saying that the women would get paid less.
Of course, we now live in the 21st Century. Towards the end of the last one legislation started to be enacted with the aim of doing away with the distinction. It will soon be fifty years since the Equal Pay Act of 1970 came into force.   Of course, we now live in the 21st century. Towards the end of the last one legislation started to be enacted with the aim of doing away with the distinction. It will soon be 50 years since the Equal Pay Act came into force.  
So it shouldn’t be a thing anymore.  So it shouldn’t be a thing any more. 
Except that it is. There is an Equal Pay Act. But that doesn't mean that there is such a thing as equal pay.     Except that it is. There is an Equal Pay Act. But that doesn’t mean that there is such a thing as equal pay.    
This week sees the latest stage in a tortuous legal process brought by 15,000 current and former Asda workers. They work in shops. And they are mostly female. And compared to their colleagues in warehouses and distribution centres they say they get paid less. Those colleagues are, of course, largely male.  This week sees the latest stage in a tortuous legal process brought by 15,000 current and former Asda workers. They work in shops. And they are mostly female. And compared to their colleagues in warehouses and distribution centres they say they get paid less. Those colleagues are, of course, largely male.  
A hearing will be asked to decide the process for writing and agreeing job descriptions for the work performed by the various workers in the two groups. A hearing will be asked to decide the process for writing and agreeing job descriptions for the work performed by the various workers in the two groups. 
Once that has been done the roles will be scored. Where the shop workers get an equal or greater score than their warehouse equivalents they will have a claim if they get paid less.  Once that has been done the roles will be scored. Where the shop workers get an equal or greater score than their warehouse equivalents they will have a claim if they get paid less. 
As you might imagine, this could get very expensive for the company, because back pay will also have to be taken into consideration. The figure of £100m has been mentioned.As you might imagine, this could get very expensive for the company, because back pay will also have to be taken into consideration. The figure of £100m has been mentioned.
Asda operates in a brutally competitive sector and has been struggling. It needs a hit like that like a hole in the head. Asda operates in a brutally competitive sector and has been struggling. It needs a hit like that like a hole in the head. 
So it has chosen to fight, arguing that men and women doing the same jobs in the same locations are paid the same amounts, but that there are legitimate reasons for paying those working in different locations different sums. So it has chosen to fight, arguing that men and women doing the same jobs in the same locations are paid the same amounts, but that there are legitimate reasons for paying those working in different locations different sums. 
It looks superfically plausible, until you consider the historical context of 'women's work' being less valued than 'men's work' and the excuses that have long been deployed to justify that. Excuses that contribute to a gender pay gap that, according to official figures, even today stands at 9.4 per cent among full time workers despite all that legislation. Which is frankly apalling.  It looks superficially plausible, until you consider the historical context of “women’s work” being less valued than “men’s work” and the excuses that have long been deployed to justify that. Excuses that contribute to a gender pay gap that, according to official figures, even today stands at 9.4 per cent among full-time workers despite all that legislation. Which is frankly appalling. 
Progressive minded employers have been seeking to address that. The pity is that Asda is not among them.  Progressive-minded employers have been seeking to address that. The pity is that Asda is not among them. 
In reality there should be no such a thing as women’s work or men’s work. There should just be work for which which workers in essentially comparable roles, with comparable responsibilities, should be compensated for with equal pay.  In reality there should be no such thing as women’s work or men’s work. There should just be work for which employees in essentially comparable roles, with comparable responsibilities, should be compensated with equal pay. 
If it takes the courts to enforce that, then so be it, because it is simply unconscionable.If it takes the courts to enforce that, then so be it, because it is simply unconscionable.
Employers like Asda should stop swimming against the tide. Employers like Asda should stop swimming against the tide.