Supermarket giant Asda, part-owned by Blackburn billionaire Mohsin Issa, faces a major equal pay claim today as 60,000 workers take their case to an employment tribunal.

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The case, which is expected to last three months, centres on the retail workforce being paid up to £3.74 less per hour than the warehouse workforce.

The GMB Union says the retail staff are predominantly women, while the warehouse staff are predominantly male.

Claimants will argue retail work is of the same value as warehouse work, so they should be paid the same.

If the claim is successful, the union believes the decision could cost Asda billions of pounds.

The tribunal follows a recent decision at employment tribunal for fashion retailer Next, which lost an equal pay battle.

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