
UK retailer ASDA has issued an on the record response to an article by GMB Union published on FMIndustry.com at ASDA Equal Pay: Demonstrations as Over 60,000 Retail Workers Begin Sex Discrimination Case – GMB Union – FM Industry on 6th September, 2024.
In a letter to FMIndustry.com, the retailer draws the attention of readers to the following background information in relation to a tribunal hearing which is referenced in the GMB Union article:
Equal Pay stages: Background points
- The stage two hearing will assess whether certain store-based roles are of Equal Value to some depot-based roles.
- The tribunal will look at multiple jobs including checkout operators, shop floor staff and customer service desk in retail. In depots the roles include warehouse colleagues who operate high reach trucks and those who work in a chilled/frozen environment.
- Asda would only move to the final stage i.e. the Material Factor Defence stage) if the tribunal finds that any store-based roles are of equal value to depot roles.
A spokesperson for the retailer comments additionally: “We fully respect the right of current and former colleagues to bring this case, however, we strongly reject any claim that Asda’s pay rates are influenced by gender. There are numerous different jobs within retail and within 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.”