"Co-op workers owed up to £10,000 each in equal pay claim, say lawyers," 25 Jan 2020

Hundreds of Co-op shop floor staff have launched an equal pay claim against the supermarket with some employees allegedly owed £10,000.

More than 400 staff, mostly women, claim that they are paid less than men who work in Co-op warehouses even though their jobs are of equal value.

 Law firm Leigh day, which is representing the group, argues that the difference in pay is discriminatory and says up to 50,000 current and former Co-op employees could be entitled to bring a claim. 

Michael Newman, a partner in the employment team at Leigh Day, said: “In the stores women are more routinely employed to work on the shop floor and deal with customers. Those working in the warehouses are overwhelmingly men. 

“Despite equal pay laws being in place for almost 50 years, the group that is mostly men gets paid more. We say this cannot be lawful.