(Sharecast News) - Retail giant Co-op has lost a key legal fight in an equal pay dispute with its shop-floor workers.
More than 1,600 Co-op employees took action against the firm over accusations that they were being compensated less than staff in its distribution centres.

Co-op's predominantly female shop-workers argued they should be entitled to equitable pay to the firm's mainly male distribution workforce - which receives as much £3.0 more on an hourly basis.

However, the Co-op, which conceded a "comparability concession" in the case, a step towards recognising the different roles were of equal value, has vowed to continue to defend itself against the claims and adamantly claimed it already pays employees "fairly".

Co-op said: "Our colleagues play an important role in feeding the nation and it's central to the Co-op's values that we pay them fairly for the work that they do in supporting communities.

"We believe that we pay our colleagues fairly for the roles that they do, and so will continue to defend these claims."

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