Asda Loses Key UK Ruling in £1.2 Billion Equal Pay Contest (1)

British supermarket chain Asda Group Ltd. lost a crucial ruling in its £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) equal pay dispute as a UK court found a number of the jobs done by female employees were of equal value to their male colleagues.

Asda failed to block claims from 12 out of 14 women who are leading the case on behalf of tens of thousands of store workers. The ruling sets the stage for the final hearing where Asda must justify the pay difference to avoid the payout estimated at as much as £1.2 billion by the claimants. The employment tribunal dismissed ...