Over 150 members of parliament have appealed to Asda’s owners to resolve an ongoing gender-equal pay dispute.
- The appeal is contained in a letter addressed to TDR Capital, Asda’s majority owners, signed by 159 MPs.
- The MPs urge TDR Capital’s founders to commence urgent settlement talks with the GMB Union.
- The pay dispute could potentially involve back payments exceeding £2 billion.
- Asda, however, disputes the claims, citing different pay structures for varied roles.
More than 150 MPs have addressed a letter to Asda’s majority owners, TDR Capital, urging them to settle the ongoing gender-equal pay dispute that has been a matter of contention. According to reports, 159 MPs, including notable figures like Labour’s Nadia Whittome, Diane Abbott, and Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville-Roberts, have signed this communication. This letter calls upon TDR Capital’s founding and managing partners, Manjit Dale and Gary Lindsay, to initiate settlement negotiations with the GMB Union without further delay.
The issue at hand concerns a significant claim related to backdated pay, which MPs highlight could potentially exceed £2 billion. This projection underscores the scale of the alleged gender pay discrimination affecting retail workers and presents a substantial financial implication for Asda, should the claims be validated. The letter suggests that it is timely for Asda to earnestly address and potentially resolve the pay discrimination issue.
An Asda spokesperson has responded, asserting their respect for colleagues’ rights to bring forth such claims, but firmly denying any gender-based pay discrimination. They argue that the pay rates differ across retail and warehouse roles due to distinct skill sets and industry sectors. Asda maintains its stance of defending these claims vigorously in court, emphasizing the separation of retail and distribution industry standards.
GMB National Officer, Nadine Houghton, remarks that the support from politicians is encouraging to GMB members working at Asda. She believes low-paid female workers have been vital to the profitability of retail giants and that it is time they receive appropriate remuneration for their contributions. Consequently, the current political and legal pressure might prompt Asda’s owners to consider settling the claims appropriately.
The situation is not isolated to Asda, as evidenced by a similar legal battle involving Next, where over 3,500 employees have recently succeeded in their claim for pay equity. Such cases reflect a broader trend within the industry, signalling increasing awareness and action against pay discrepancies. The outcomes of these disputes may set significant precedents for future employer-employee negotiations across the sector.
The ongoing legal and political pressures may influence Asda to reconsider its position and work towards an equitable resolution.
