Recently, Birmingham City Council agreed to settle equal pay claims with 6,000 staff members. You may have seen this in the news.
This landmark agreement addresses pay disparities between roles traditionally held by women, such as teaching assistants, carers, and cleaners, and their male-dominated counterparts, such as waste collectors. Despite performing comparable work, people in female-dominated roles consistently received smaller pay packets.
As well as securing a payout for the claimants, the win is also a crucial step toward rectifying systemic inequalities and ensuring fair remuneration for all Birmingham City Council employees. It signals that longstanding inequities in the workplace can, and must, be addressed.
Supermarkets in the spotlight: The equal pay battle continues
The Birmingham settlement isn’t an isolated event – it’s part of a growing nationwide push for fair pay. Supermarket giants Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons are now embroiled in huge equal pay lawsuits, with thousands of current and former employees, largely women, demanding compensation for years of alleged pay discrimination. The outcome of these cases could shape the future of workplace equality in the UK.
What are the supermarket equal pay claims about
- Comparative roles: Women in store-based roles, such as cashiers and shelf-stackers, claim they were paid less than men in distribution centres – despite doing work of equal value.
- Significant pay gaps: The difference in hourly rates between these roles has been alleged to amount to thousands of pounds annually for each worker.
- Legal grounds: The claimants argue this disparity breaches the Equality Act 2010, which mandates equal pay for equal work.
In 2024, an employment tribunal ruled that Next store staff should have been paid the same rate as Next warehouse employees. As a result of the ruling, the underpaid workers could now be due more than £30 million in backpay. Legal experts believe the Next result is good news for supermarket employees across the UK fighting similar claims for equal pay. As the legal battle gains momentum, these lawsuits could lead to billions of pounds in compensation for supermarket employees.
Male supermarket workers could also be due compensation
While the supermarkets pay their (predominantly male) warehouse staff more than their (predominantly female) store workers, this isn’t just a women’s issue – both men and women can join the Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s equal pay claims.
Equal pay claims challenge the value employers place on roles, regardless of gender. If a job requires the same skills and delivers the same value, it should command the same pay.
Why these equal pay claims matter
Commenting on the Birmingham City Council case, one claimant told the BBC:
"It shouldn't have happened and we need to make sure now that it never happens again. "We need to make sure that the young girls that we teach can go into jobs in the future knowing that they're going to be paid fairly along with their male colleagues."
A similar win for supermarket employees would mean not just compensation but the recognition of their worth, paving the way for more equitable workplaces across the UK. These cases could also encourage other employers to reevaluate their pay structures, address longstanding inequalities, and encourage those who are underpaid to step up and seek a fair wage through a group action claim.
Stay informed
The battle for fair pay is one we all have a stake in. Whether you’re an employee or simply someone who values fairness, staying informed is key. Sign up to our newsletter and learn more about the supermarket and other claims. Together, we can ensure that fairness isn’t just an ideal – but a reality for all.
