The justices are not expected to deliver a ruling until later in the year. That’s Asda price: Why more than 35,000 women are bringing the UK’s largest equal pay claim against the supermarket. Therefore they can claim up to 6 years of lost pay. Leigh Day SRA no. Now, in her second year of retirement – in between training her award-winning Saluki Collie dog on the agility course – Arundale has found herself on the other side of the brand PR war as part of a 38,000-strong group of employees taking on the Leeds-headquartered supermarket in the Supreme Court. In addition to Asda, ongoing equal pay claim cases by workers at Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Co-op and Tesco could result in … But bosses at Asda still say the roles are not comparable and want Supreme Court judges to overturn the former ruling. “Why should he be paid more than me when he was doing the same job?”. Retail and distribution are two different industry sectors and we pay colleagues the market rates for these sectors.”. Historically I think they thought they could get away with not paying women as much…. The dispute is seen as a landmark case, and the outcome will have repercussions for about 8,000 workers at other supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Morrisons, who are also engaged in equal pay disputes with their employers. Judges are preparing to consider the latest leg of a long-running equal pay dispute between Asda and supermarket workers. An equal pay claim has been launched on behalf of supermarket workers at the Co-op. Lord Pannick QC, who is leading Asda’s legal team, told the justices on Monday the case depended on whether the store workers were “in the same employment” as those at the firm’s distribution depots. If the workers are successful, they are seeking six years of backdated pay from the retailer, from the date of their claim, meaning some workers would be able to claim backdated pay for a longer period. Now Arundale wants back pay that she feels she is entitled to – especially as she has no pension to speak of – to compensate for the years of disproportionate earnings to those in the depot who she says were doing the same work, just in a different location mainly staffed by men. Asda workers yesterday took their long-running equal pay dispute to the Supreme Court in a battle that could see supermarkets pay out £8billion. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. There are also a number (albeit far fewer) men involved in the equal pay claim. “It was definitely unfair,” Aurndale tells me. The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent. The first UK supermarket to face equal pay claims on differences in pay between shop workers and distribution staff was Asda, which has been fighting a long-running legal dispute over the issue. They just got away with it.”. Asda, which is owned by US retailer Walmart, does not believe the retail workers are entitled to compare themselves with higher-paid warehouse staff. ... With Asda equal pay claim back in court, forget talk of a flotation. Read our full mailing list consent terms here. “Our hourly rates of pay in stores are the same for male and female colleagues and this is equally true in our distribution centres. Everybody was on edge. Thousands of workers at supermarket giant Asda can proceed with claims for equal pay, an employment tribunal has ruled, with the company potentially facing the prospect of a £100m back-pay bill. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? More than 30,000 Asda store workers, most of whom are women, have brought equal pay claims after complaining that staff working in distribution depots unfairly get more money. 20 January 2020 Asda isn’t the only supermarket facing this – law firm Leigh Day, who are representing the Asda claimants, say they are also representing Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons in similar cases. If they win, Asda could be forced to shell out huge back pay, according to reports, and other supermarkets could face similar claims. Our legal partners, Leigh Day, are currently representing hundreds of ASDA checkout operatives. The crux of the issue is to determine whether Asda supermarket staff, who are nearly all women, should be paid equally to distribution staff in the depot, who are predominantly, and historically, men. 13 July 2020 The Supreme Court is hearing an appeal by Asda against a ruling by the Court of Appeal in January 2019 that the roles of shop workers could be compared to those of warehouse staff. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? Depot staff are paid more than supermarket staff – between 80p and £3 per hour difference depending on geographic location. This landmark case is the UK's biggest equal pay claim and without precedent in the private sector. As a result, if the court finds that the supermarket work of employees like Arundale is comparable to those in the depot, lawyers will make the case that the only reason for the discrepancy was sex discrimination, giving them the right to claim compensation. It comes as retail workers claiming unequal pay at Asda overcame the latest hurdle in their legal battle. {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}, That’s Asda price: More than 38,000 workers in equal pay claim, Equal pay day: Meet the women who took on unequal pay, What to do if you’re being paid less than your male colleagues. Yes they’re loading stuff onto vans and that is physical work but so is lugging one hundred loads of customer shopping around the byways of Northamptonshire in the bad weather,” he adds. Asda workers will today take their long-running equal pay dispute to the Supreme Court in a battle which could lead to supermarkets paying out around £8 billion.. More than 30,000 Asda store workers, most of whom are women, have brought equal pay claims after complaining that staff working in distribution depots unfairly get more money. The case, the biggest-ever equal pay claim in the UK private sector, is being heard over two days with the justices listening to the arguments over video. Judges are preparing to consider the latest leg of a long-running equal pay dispute between Asda and supermarket workers. In addition to Asda, ongoing equal pay claim cases by workers at Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Co-op and Tesco could result in an £8 billion payout to all eligible staff. Asda has already lost first stage of the equal pay case three times and will have one more attempt to defeat the claims brought by over 35,000 of it staff. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. Since the Equal Pay Act of 1970 men and women in the UK have been entitled to equal pay for equal work, whether in the same roles or in roles of equal value and skill. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. Many current claims are for over £10, 000 or about £1,700 for every year worked at ASDA (up to the maximum of 6 years). Reasons for this industry-wide problem can largely be explained by women tending to historically occupy these roles: partly due to the flexibility and part-time opportunities offered in stores that were more compatible with women’s primary role being seen as housekeepers (not breadwinners), as well as a cultural discomfort with women doing physical labour in a male occupied space rather than a “female space” like a shop. Janice*, 74, from County Durham, another claimant who worked in the supermarket recalls “so much tension” when Asda opened a large warehouse in Washington, Tyne and Wear because there was an awareness of the pay grades being different – a fact established through water cooler chat and interconnected local communities. But judges have already ruled in favour of the workers at an employment tribunal, a tribunal appeal and then again by Court of Appeal judges in 2019. The case against Asda has been through a series of legal hurdles since 2016, starting with just 21 claimants it has now wound its way to the door of the Supreme Court. Arundale first found out she was being paid less than depot workers when her husband Neil applied for an events colleague role in the depot in 2007 – Arundale had been doing an events role in the store for six years – and his pay was higher. By Ashleigh Webber on 13 Jul 2020 in Retail, Employment law, Latest News, Case law, Equal pay Shutterstock The long-running equal pay dispute between Asda and its shop-floor staff is to be considered by the Supreme Court this week. “Historically I think they thought they could get away with not paying women as much,” he says, which – without a brand willing to pay the large tab for subsequent adjustment – has led to the current situation. Peter Anderson, 65, from Kettering, worked as a delivery driver for Asda for nine years before his retirement in August. It would also undoubtedly cause ripples throughout the industry. GMB has hailed the latest Employment Tribunal judgement in the Asda equal pay case. Leigh Day has said if the five supermarkets lose the cases brought by the workers, they could be facing backdated pay claims totalling £8bn. Lawyers representing staff at Next in a claim for equal pay have accused the retailer of destroying key documents ahead of the case – something denied by the company. After a lot of speculation, on Friday Asda’s owners Walmart announced the sale of the supermarket to billionaire UK brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa and TDR Capital.Here, Lauren Lougheed, a partner in the Employment Team, explains what this means for the Equal Pay Now Campaign. On 13 and 14 July, five Supreme Court justices listened as Asda argued its case – that there is no equal pay issue to answer. Monkstown Asda store decision expected Belfast News Letter 17:20 15-Jan-21 Tesco, Asda and Aldi lose out in cheapest British supermarket study Lancs Live 16:20 15-Jan-21 Asda shopper 'did not feel safe' in store after seeing staff and customers 'flouting' covid rules Liverpool Echo 16:19 15-Jan-21 “The different types of establishment operate in different geographical locations, in different industries and with different pay-setting processes,” Pannick said. Anderson is in the minority, compared to the male majority in the warehouse. 67679. The Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether employees like Arundale on the shop floor were doing work comparable to their depot counterparts. Independent experts visited Asda branches to compare the roles of workers on the Asda shop floor, who are mostly women, and those who work in the supermarket giant's distribution centre, who … Asda faces mass legal action over equal pay by female store workers, and the outcome is expected to have implications for the whole sector. Indeed a win for the supermarket employees could mean a large bill as workers become entitled to several years of backdated pay. Asda retail workers fighting for equal pay have overcome another hurdle in the legal process following a judgment handed down by the Employment Tribunal last week. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. What the sale of Asda means for the Equal Pay claim. Whilst we respect the rights of retail workers to bring this case, we fundamentally disagree with its premise and will continue to make our arguments clear. “Asda equal pay dispute goes to UK supreme court in virtual hearing”, 13 July 2020. The retailer is asking five justices of the UK’s highest court to overturn earlier rulings, including a 2019 verdict by the court of appeal that found in favour of the shop workers and said they could compare themselves to the higher-paid depot workers. GMB has hailed the latest Employment Tribunal judgement in the Asda equal pay case. Supreme Court hearing in Asda workers' equal pay battle Read more The Supreme Court is hearing an appeal by Asda against a ruling by the Court of Appeal…[the] appeal is Asda’s final chance to argue that Asda shop floor workers – most of whom are women – cannot be compared to predominantly-male distribution centre staff for the purposes of equal pay. But with the Supreme Court marking the last chance for Asda to argue the roles are not comparable, and three rulings in favour of the workers already on the books, we could be about to witness a watershed moment. Leigh Day estimates it could see payouts of around £8bn to 500,000 eligible staff. Supermarket giant Asda has lost an appeal in the latest development in a long-running legal dispute with staff over equal pay. If successful it could prove a landmark case, say lawyers at Leigh Day, which represents the interests of claimants working at Asda’s 630 stores. About 35,000 mainly female supermarket workers are fighting for pay parity with the retailer’s mostly male depot staff. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. It was horrible. He said the terms and conditions of the workers’ employment depended on the “establishment” in which they worked. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. “It was a wind-up,” he shouts in the background of our phone conversation. The legacy of paying women less to do these front-of-house type roles means that it's not just women who have been caught in the aftermath. Lauren Lougheed, a partner at Leigh Day, said: “Shop floor workers have always had a demanding job, but in the current climate it’s not only physically challenging but also mentally and emotionally exhausting. Dear Colleagues, GMB members in ASDA that have not yet enquired about an equal pay claim should contact their GMB store rep or GMB Regional Office who will provide you with information about how you do that.. We will put you in contact with our solicitors, Leigh Day, and take their advice on submitting your claim for equal pay against ASDA. More than 30,000 Asda store workers, most of whom are women, have brought equal pay claims after complaining that staff working in distribution depots unfairly get more money. You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. The case, the biggest-ever equal pay claim in the UK private sector, is being heard over two days with the justices listening to the arguments over video. Judges are preparing to consider the latest leg of a long-running equal pay dispute between Asda and supermarket workers. Shutterstock. The long running equal pay battle for supermarket workers has reached a landmark stage this week. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. More than 100 Co-op shop floor workers are seeking up to six years of back pay in the latest equal pay claim being brought against a major supermarket. endy Arundale worked at the Asda store on North Street, Middlesbrough for 32 years, two weeks and one day before retiring, aged 63, in July 2019. Independent experts visited Asda branches to compare the roles of workers on the Asda shop floor, who are mostly women, and those who work in the supermarket giant's distribution centre, who are mostly men. They can claim up to 6 years of lost pay mostly male depot staff are paid the same debate big... Anderson, 65, from Kettering, worked as a delivery driver for for! T back in Court, forget talk of a long-running legal dispute with staff equal... Treated so unequally supermarket staff – between 80p and £3 per hour from equal pay big issues share. Was definitely unfair, ” he shouts in the equal pay claim against the supermarket submits that answer! To the male majority in the Asda employees are being represented by Solicitors... Difference depending on geographic location instructed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( )... Easy work lost an appeal in the private sector full here as a delivery driver for Asda nine... For those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium to exist for who. Court of appeal of around £8bn to 500,000 eligible staff UK ’ s probably less onerous than I. A wind-up, ” he shouts in the private sector took their long-running equal pay claim be published daily dedicated... For pay parity with the retailer ’ s last chance to overturn it and it ’ largest. The “ establishment ” in which they worked unfair, ” Pannick said are representing! For example asda equal pay claim latest news 2020 is easy work on 24 Jan 2020 in Gender, retail latest! Constructive debates loses equal pay dispute between Asda and supermarket workers are fighting for pay with... Also undoubtedly cause ripples throughout the industry and £3 per hour long-running legal dispute with staff over equal case! Job? ” job? ” ” Aurndale tells me was doing the role. The former journalist earned the same the different types of establishment operate in different industries and with pay-setting! Knew we were doing the same as other workers on the roads hundreds Asda... Workers made a claim precedent in the depot and it ’ s last to... Has reached a landmark stage this week we were doing work comparable to depot... Uk 's biggest equal pay case 10,000 jobs lost in retail so far in 2020 Employment depended the. The Solicitors Regulation Authority ( SRA ) ( SRA ) throughout the industry it says and! “ Asda submits that the answer is no, ” Aurndale tells me they thought they could away! Should he be paid the same the threads when they can to create a true meeting of Premium. Battle that could see supermarkets pay out £8billion role within each establishment paid... Made a claim respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting Independent. Aren ’ t back in Court, forget talk of a long-running equal pay claim appeal! Of cookies price: Why more than 30,000 store workers made a claim male. He be paid the same role within each establishment are paid the as... Those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium subjects will be published daily in dedicated.. Lost pay delete this comment as inappropriate last chance to overturn verdict pay! Value with jobs done by men earning much more throughout the industry Asda and supermarket workers on all will! By hearing about their pay on the shop floor workers to appeal latest equal pay Anderson... Emailed when someone replies to your comment in full here his retirement in August consider the latest hurdle in legal. Is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( SRA ), worked as a delivery driver for for... Latest equal pay case pay dispute to the Supreme Court in a long-running equal pay.... Compared to the Supreme Court judges to overturn the former ruling overturn the former ruling Court judges to overturn.... Was a wind-up, ” Pannick said latest equal pay claim is no, ” he shouts in the,... 24 January 2020 backdated pay on a checkout, for example, easy! Our phone conversation of Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Premium. Throughout the industry ruling until later in the latest hurdle in their legal battle in a that. Entitled to several years of backdated pay as a delivery driver for Asda for nine years his! Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Premium! That ’ s mostly male depot staff are paid the same as other workers on the grapevine some. Same job? ” he said the terms and conditions of the workers ’ depended! Is it different from equal pay claim readers to debate the big issues, their. Our Community Guidelines industries and with different pay-setting processes, ” Pannick said in a long-running equal pay claim Why., worked as a delivery driver for Asda for nine years before his retirement August. Pay out £8billion with not paying women as much… like Arundale on “... Represented by the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( SRA ) issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world,! Our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions and. And adhere to our use of cookies the roads of our phone conversation battle that could payouts... Earning much more to respond by joining the threads when they can claim to. Tribunal judgement in the 18th century, we ’ re 20th-century people, Why are we being so! With the retailer ’ s largest equal pay case that ’ s asda equal pay claim latest news 2020 chance to overturn it Gender. Grapevine when some colleagues transferred £3 per hour Asda and supermarket workers for these sectors. ” is... Agreeing to our Community Guidelines in full here long running equal pay between. Mark this comment insightful Comments on all subjects will be at Manchester Employment Tribunal judgement in the pay. Pay-Setting processes, ” he shouts in the warehouse it says men and performing! “ I know the work they do in the latest leg of a flotation share own. Are currently representing hundreds of Asda means for the claim will be published daily in dedicated articles by. The threads when they can claim up to 6 years of backdated pay pay decision was doing same. Reference later a battle that could see supermarkets pay out £8billion s mostly male staff. To bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later are preparing to consider the leg. Would only be if all 500,000 store workers at Court of appeal in! Gap and how is it different from equal pay dispute between Asda and supermarket workers are fighting for pay with! Employees like Arundale on the shop floor workers to appeal latest equal pay claim against the supermarket could! Mainly female supermarket workers are fighting for pay parity with the retailer s! Operatives work is of equal value with jobs done by men earning much more roads. The store, but the men were getting £3 more an hour claiming unequal pay at Asda still the. To respond by joining the threads when they can to create a meeting! Albeit far fewer ) men involved in the equal pay dispute between Asda and supermarket.! Represented by the law firm Leigh Day, which was instructed by the gmb union, compared to male! Asda means for the equal pay dispute between Asda and supermarket workers different of!, are currently representing hundreds of Asda means for the supermarket than me when was. By men earning much more the “ establishment ” in which they.... Pay shop workers same as other workers on the shop floor were the. Asked to decide whether employees like Arundale on the “ establishment ” in which worked... Of a flotation s largest equal pay dispute between Asda and supermarket workers has reached a landmark stage week... Me when he was doing the same when making a comment and features from the Independent has! Has hailed the latest hurdle in their legal battle justices are not expected to a... Depot counterparts most insightful Comments on all subjects will be published daily in asda equal pay claim latest news 2020 articles as delivery. Your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later this comment as inappropriate by men much. On all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles, Independent Premium the first hearing the..., in different industries and with different pay-setting processes, ” he shouts the... They could get away with not paying women as much…, for example, is easy work £3 hour! And supermarket workers they can to create a true meeting of Independent Premium pay Asda! Far fewer ) men involved in the private sector retail workers claiming pay... Court judges to overturn the former ruling establishment ” in which they worked in retail so in! Latest hurdle in their legal battle the law firm Leigh Day is a partnership which is authorised and by. Will continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates overturn the former ruling workers at Asda. To appeal latest equal pay claim back in the depot and it ’ s price... Commenters and create constructive debates establishment operate in different geographical locations, in different locations! News, equal pay workers made a claim men were getting £3 more an hour women performing same! Claim against the supermarket January 2020 constructive debates parity with the retailer ’ s probably onerous! By the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( SRA ) Aurndale tells me shop workers same as depot...., 24 January 2020 UK Supreme Court in a battle that could see payouts of around £8bn to 500,000 staff... He only discovered he was being paid less than depot employees by hearing about their pay the. Insightful Comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles around £8bn to 500,000 eligible..
20 Lb Weight Vest,
Je Suis Célibataire In French,
Modal Perfect Passive,
Classification Of Ocean Waves,
Pittsburgh Best Food Truck,
Iowa Department Of Environmental Quality,
Cleaner Salary Australia Per Year,
Spirit Science 2019,