Representatives of Asda and GMB, the union which represents its workers, are due to appear in Manchester Crown Court today, in the latest round of a legal dispute between the grocer and union over pay disparities between workers in-store versus distribution centres.

GMB argues that “work carried out in stores, which is predominantly carried out by women, is of equal value to that carried out in Asda distribution centres which is predominantly carried out by men”.

The union and supermarket chain have been locked in a dispute over the issue since 2016, when GMB brought claims from 17,000 workers to the Employment Tribunal and won.