Women welcome equal pay victory after court rules against supermarket giant
Women who worked at Asda welcomed a court decision on equal pay, but said the supermarket giant should have resolved the issue years ago.
More than 40,000 Asda store workers, about two-thirds of whom are women, brought equal pay claims after complaining that staff working in distribution depots unfairly get more money.
Supreme Court justices were asked to consider whether the store workers are entitled to compare themselves to distribution staff for equal pay purposes - and yesterday they ruled against Asda bosses who had claimed that comparison could not be made.
Union leaders have called for talks with supermarket bosses amid warnings the ruling could have implications for other chains and retailers.
Kate Gorton, one of the claimants in the case, said that the difference between the pay of workers on the shop floor and distribution centres is "significant".
Ms Gorton, who worked in Asda stores in Stoke-on-trent and Coventry between 2011 and 2019, said: "The difference in pay was between £1 and £4 an hour. This case goes back to 2016 so Asda should have resolved it a long time ago.
"The difference in pay still goes on today."
Wendy Arundale, who worked for Asda for 32 years, added: "I'm delighted that shop floor workers are one step closer to achieving equal pay.
"I loved my job, but knowing that male colleagues working
in distribution centres were being paid more left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"It's not much to ask to be paid an equal wage for work of equal value, and I'm glad the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion as all the other courts."
GMB Scotland organiser Robert Deavy said: "The ruling opens the door to equal pay justice for thousands of Asda
workers in Scotland and it's a massive moment.
"Asda has fought tooth and nail for years to deny shop floor workers, predominantly women, their proper value and this is now their fourth defeat in the courts.
"They need to accept they are wrong, that over 40,000 claimants across the UK are right, and now sit down with GMB to start a process of settling
the liability for their discrimination.
"After everything these workers have given this business over the last year, their voices must be heard."
More than 40,000 Asda store workers, about two-thirds of whom are women, brought equal pay claims after complaining that staff working in distribution depots unfairly get more money.
Asda bosses said store jobs were not comparable to distribution centre jobs.
The store workers, who are represented by law firm Leigh Day, made sex discrimination claims, saying they historically got less because most store workers are women while most distribution depot staff are men.
Lawyers representing the store workers say distribution depot workers get between £1.50 and £3.00 an hour more.
Supreme Court justices were asked to consider whether Asda store workers are entitled to compare themselves to distribution staff for equal pay purposes. They ruled against Asda bosses yesterday after considering arguments at a hearing in July.