TWO women have taken retailer Wilko to court after claiming they were paid less than their male colleagues for the same work.

Julia Hanks, 55, of Caldicot, and Becky Jarman, 48, of Magor, claim management allowed a “boys’ club” environment at one of the company’s largest distribution centres.

The women, who worked at Wilko’s warehouse in Magor, Monmouthshire, say their concerns over pay were ignored and led to them being sidelined. A tribunal later found some male colleagues had been paid more for comparable work.

Ms Jarman said she discovered she was being paid less than some male colleagues after two started “bantering” about their salaries on pay day, and asked to see their pay slips.

She said: “It was there in black and white, I felt so betrayed. I trusted Wilko to pay me correctly and I trusted my bosses to value me. At that time I had given them over 16 years of service, these men at that time had provided only two.

“It was a total boys club, even in the office the managers’ photos hanging on the wall are all male. We had to fight for everything we achieved, the same cannot be said for the men.”

Ms Hanks, a shift leader who was with the firm for 18 years, said: “As soon as Becky told me what she had discovered, it never crossed my mind not to follow it up. We were already aware that preferential treatment was being given to the men.

“From the moment we raised this issue internally we were gaslighted, we were lied to, bullied and ostracised. I had never had my work in any role called into question, until I dared to query why I was not receiving the same wage as my male comparators.”

She added: “I loved my job and truly believed that I would retire in my role. But I’ve lost my job, my salary and my pension, simply because I queried my pay rate.”

Both were eventually dismissed from their jobs - Ms Jarman in June 2018 and Ms Hackman in October 2018 - after a period of being signed off sick with stress.

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Law firm Slater and Gordon said an employment tribunal held in Cardiff in March heard four male members of Wilko staff were being paid at least 10 per cent more for the same role or a role of less responsibility compared to the women over a three-year period.

They said the tribunal found there was no evidence to suggest either party were paid differently for any material reason, other than their sex.

This is despite Wilko’s 2019 gender pay-gap report stating the company’s median pay gap was zero per cent.

Claims of sex discrimination, victimisation and unfair dismissal against Wilko are due to be raised in a court hearing later this year.

Sarah Hexter, employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon, who represents the women, said: “This is one large step in Julia and Becky’s fight for justice and equality, but it is not the final one. We are confident we will clear the next hurdles and secure the right outcome for them both.”

Nicola Savage, GMB regional officer for members at Wilko said: “Julia and Becky have been stoic throughout this process, despite Wilko management’s consistent attempts to stonewall any efforts for the matters to be resolved in-house.”

A Wilko spokesman said: “Our team members form the core of our culture and have an essential role to play in the success of our business.

“We believe in treating everyone with fairness and respect and while we acknowledge the outcome of the initial hearing based on the information presented, we are unable to comment further as this is an ongoing matter which we will robustly defend.

“We work hard to create an inclusive culture that enables team members to be the best they can be.

“We will continue to employ the right people to do the job regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, marital status, trade union membership, working pattern or age.”