West Midlands workers urged to check eligibility for equal pay claims against Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons

A major UK law firm is urging supermarket staffers to check whether they are eligible for equal pay claims against three popular supermarket brands.

Harcus Parker launched a landmark legal case against Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons a with the aim of claiming billions of pounds back for hard-working Brits who believe they were underpaid during their years of service, which is currently ongoing.

The claims, which focus on work done in the past six years, allege that female-dominated supermarket store roles were paid less than male-dominated warehouse roles despite being of equal value, with reported pay gaps between £1 and £3 per hour depending on the retailer.

If successful, current and previous workers can expect up to five-figure settlements for unpaid wages backdated for up to six years - with the firm believing the supermarket sector could be exposed to claims amounting up to £2billion as hundreds of thousands of present and former team members could be affected.

Now, the firm is seeking to help others who may have a legal claim across the country - including the West Midlands - with the launch of their new website Fair Pay UK.

The website aims to help workers, is a dedicated platform for people who have or still work for Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, know their rights and check whether they have a claim.

Nate Barber, Partner at Harcus Parker, said: “We welcome the Government's commitment to review the equal pay system. It is clear that too many people are still facing pay discrimination more than 50 years after equal pay protections were first introduced.

"But reform must not come at the expense of the routes to justice that workers already rely on. The priority must be making those routes accessible, quick and effective.

“Work traditionally done by women is still too often undervalued, underpaid and overlooked. That is exactly what these supermarket equal pay claims are about. If successful it will cost billions to the sector.

“In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, frontline retail workers deserve full and fair payment for their hard work. This is about recovering billions of pounds in back pay that these workers are owed, and making sure people understand they do not have to accept unfair pay as normal.

“Anyone who works, or has worked, on the shopfloor at Asda, Morrisons or Sainsbury’s within the last six years should check whether they can join the claim. Tens of thousands of workers are already taking legal action. The more people who join, the stronger the message to the UK’s biggest supermarkets: enough is enough.

“We want people to feel that they will be seen and supported. Taking on household names like Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's is no small task, but it is an essential step towards fairness and justice.”

The launch comes as the Government announced a consultation on improving the UK's equal pay system, more than 50 years after equal pay protections were first introduced, placing fresh focus on how workers can enforce their rights.

There have already been a series of high-profile equal pay cases across the retail sector. In 2021, former Tesco employees brought claims alleging longstanding pay disparities between comparable roles. One case alleged a worker was paid up to £6,000 less per year than colleagues in similar roles.

To check your eligibility, visit the Fair Pay UK website.

Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have been contacted for a comment.