Supermarket equal pay (Morrisons)

Mr_Benn

Good Morning all. Ive only just become aware of this case that is being made against Supermarkets , regarding equal pay for store workers in line with warehouse workers. Im just looking for some advice regarding the best way forward.

My other half has been working for Morrisons since 2020. I can see that there are a number of firms are fighting the case (no win now fee blah blah). If its not too late, does anybody know if there is a more central claim that she could join, rather than having to use one of the NWNF firms ? Thank you.

flaneurs_lobster

No knowledge of this particular case but wouldn't the place to ask for advice be the Trade Union representing workers at your OH's workplace?

elsien

I think she would need to sign up with one of the firms already involved in the court case . There isn’t any other option unless she wants to pay herself? Most people don’t hence the no win no fee. And if she doesn’t join, then she won’t get anything retrospectively if they do win, only those who are already opted in

LightFlare

Personally - I dont think it will (or should) go anywhere

Equal pay should imo apply when the duties,tasks and skill are identical or as In the NHS judged to be of equivalent value

I’m not sure this can be said to be true

Any win, unlikely as it is, may have some unintended or unanticipated negative consequences

Andy_L

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82167688#Comment_82167688

IIRC in this case it was proved/judges that the supermarket work was of equivalent value to the warehouse work. With the supermarkets defence not being that they needed to pay a premium to recruit/retain warehouse staff (which has been accepted by the courts to be a legitimate reason for differences) but that because tt was on a different site to the supermarket the equal pay legislation didn't apply

MayDogsandCoffee

The Trade Union would probably be first approach, then if there was a claim there would be no fees (apart from union membership).

elsien

Unions tend not accept anyone as a new member for an already existing issue.

Aside from which, the unions are not the ones who have taken this to court; it is the private law firms who started the litigation so joining the union is not going to help get a payout in this instance.