A LABOUR MSP has pulled out of hosting an event at Holyrood for a firm accused of sex discrimination.
Michael Marra, Scottish Labour’s finance spokesperson, was set to host an event for Asda in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday evening to support the firm’s “Community Champions” initiative.
It comes as 60,000 Asda workers launched a sex discrimination case against the supermarket giant earlier this month.
The case argues that the predominantly female retail workforce is paid up to £3.74 per hour less than the predominantly male warehouse workforce.
Trade union GMB – who are supporting the workers and are one of Labour’s biggest donors – wrote to Marra to “raise concerns” after being informed of the event (below) by The National.
"GMB is in dispute with Asda over long standing, on-going pay discrimination of women working in their shops,” said GMB National Officer Nadine Houghton.
"Just on Monday, GMB members working for Asda protested outside the Perth store, calling on bosses to resolve their equal pay claims.
"We hope Michael will meet with GMB to hear our members' concerns.”
GMB believes the back pay owed to women workers in Asda could top £30 million while securing pay equality would mean women workers receiving another £6000 a year.
Robery Deavy, GMB Scotland organiser, said: “Women’s work in Asda and elsewhere has been undervalued too long and it is beyond time for that to change.
“Asda should stop spending money on lawyers and start paying women what they deserve.
“Every obstacle placed in their way only makes our members more determined.”
Asda, meanwhile, said last week that an upcoming hearing will assess whether certain store-based roles are of equal value to some depot-based roles, examining multiple job roles, such as checkout operators, shop floor staff and customer service desk workers.
These will be compared with depot roles, including warehouse colleagues who operate high reach trucks and work in cold or freezing conditions.
An Asda spokesperson said: “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.”
