Thousands of Asda workers are set to stage demonstrations on Monday as part of a historic equal pay claim.
The case is brought by the GMB union. It involves over 60,000 current and former workers. The case is being described as the largest equal pay case ever seen in the private sector.
Demonstrations will be held outside the TUC Congress in Brighton and in Manchester, where the hearing will take place.
The case is expected to last three months. It challenges the pay disparity between Asda’s predominantly female retail staff and its largely male warehouse workforce.
Equal Pay Claim: Retail vs. Warehouse Pay
According to the GMB, female retail workers are paid up to £3.74 an hour less than their male counterparts in Asda’s warehouses.
The union argues that retail work is of equal value to warehouse work, but has been systematically undervalued.
Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said:
“Asda workers are making history. The result of this hearing will call time on the retailers undervaluing their predominantly women shop floor workers. The entire retail sector has been built on the structural undervaluing of women’s work, but GMB members are changing this.”
The case marks the second stage of a long-running legal battle over equal pay in the retail sector.
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Asda’s Response
An Asda spokesperson said the company fully respects the right of workers to bring the case forward but rejects claims that pay rates are influenced by gender.
They said:
“There are numerous different jobs within retail and warehouses.
“We continue to defend these claims because retail and distribution are two different industry sectors that have their own distinct skill sets and pay structures.”
Industry-Wide Implications
The result of this case could have wide-reaching implications for the retail sector, which has historically faced criticism for gender pay disparities.
If successful, the case could set a precedent for equal pay claims in other industries where women have long been paid less than men for comparable work.
The GMB union remains confident that the case will result in a ruling that forces Asda and other retailers to address the gender-based pay gaps across their workforces.
