Asda equal pay tribunal to go ahead

ASDA has failed in its bid to block an employment tribunal equal pay claim after two judges in the Court of Appeal ruled against the retail chain.

The tribunal was brought by more than 7000 workers, who are mostly women and work in hourly-paid jobs.

They are are demanding equal pay to those working in the distribution depots, who they say are mostly men and generally paid more.

Asda wanted the employment tribunal to impose a stay on the proceedings, which would mean the employees would need to go to the High Court in order to continue their fight.

But the employment tribunal said it had no power to halt the action and that it would not be appropriate to do so anyway.

A statement from Asda said: “The ruling from the Court of Appeal relates solely to the way the case will proceed in the courts – it has nothing to do with the merits of the case itself.

“Whilst we respect the court’s decision, we continue to strongly dispute the claims being made against us in the employment tribunal.”

It added: “This is a legal case about different rates of pay for different jobs.  We believe that jobs in question are very different in terms of their demands, and we strongly dispute the claims being made. At Asda people doing the same job are paid the same.  Men and women doing the same job in our retail stores are paid the same.  Men and women doing the same job in our distribution and logistics centre are paid the same.  Pay rates in stores and depots differ for legitimate reasons, including the different market rates for different jobs.”