Supermarket chain Asda workers on ‘cusp of justice’ in equal pay dispute

The Manchester Employment Tribunal has concluded that many roles typically held by women – including checkout assistants, customer service representatives and shop floor assistants – are of “equal value” to those better-paid warehouse staff.

Comparing 14 shop floor roles with 17 higher-paid warehouse positions, the Tribunal ruled that 12 of the shopfloor jobs were of equal value to some of the warehouse roles.

In one case, all the roles were deemed equal. However, the Tribunal didn’t find that two positions - personal shopper and shop floor assistant – to be of equal value covering the period between August 2008 and June 2014.

Despite this, the overall ruling represents a major victory for the staff involved.

In the next stage of the case, Asda will have to justify the pay gap with a non-gender related reason.

Leigh Day, the lawyers representing more than 60,000 workers, said they are helpful that the claim could result in compensation of more than £1.2bn for workers.

Leigh Day partner Lauren Lougheed said: “This is a significant step for the thousands of Asda store workers who have established equal value.

“Our clients have fought for over ten years to achieve recognition of the value of their work and I am so pleased for them.”

She added: “We hope that Asda will now focus on resolving their cases quickly, rather than prolonging the process.”

GMB Union, which represents the workers alongside Leigh Day, described the employees as “on the cusp of equal pay justice”.

GMB Union national officer Nadine Houghton said: “This is a historic step towards securing equal pay justice for tens of thousands of Asda workers, but it is tainted with bitter disappointment for those who now face an appeal.

“GMB now calls on Asda to stop wasting time and money dragging this case through the courts and get round the table with us to agree a settlement.”

An Asda spokesperson said: “We strongly reject any claim that Asda’s pay rates are discriminatory.”

“Asda will continue to defend these claims at the next stage of the litigation because retail and distribution are two different industry sectors that have their own market rates and distinct pay structures.