Shop Workers vs. Warehouse Workers: The Unfair Pay
When I worked at Tesco, I was vaguely aware of the pay gap between store staff and warehouse workers, but it wasn’t something I thought deeply about at the time. It was only later, when I had the chance to really think about it, that I realised how unfair it really was. Why were depot workers—mostly men—being paid up to £3 an hour more than store staff, who were mostly women? What struck me most was how much multitasking store workers had to do.
Even on the tills, you weren’t off the hook. We’d often be pulled away to restock shelves, move boxes, or help customers. And now I hear that store staff are being asked to back lorries into the loading bays and clean public toilets because Tesco no longer hires cleaners. It’s exhausting work, and the pay just didn’t match up with the effort or the strain on our bodies. This pay gap wasn’t just unfair on paper—it had real consequences. I’ve known plenty of colleagues who developed long-term health issues, like bad backs and arthritis, from all the heavy lifting we had to do. It makes you wonder—why wasn’t our work worth the same?
How Unfair Pay Affected Me
The unfair pay wasn’t just a number on a payslip—it affected my life in very real ways. I became the primary carer for my grand-daughter who was unwell. I went to Tesco, pleading for a flexible contract so I could be there for her, but they wouldn’t give me one. I was a single parent, struggling to make ends meet on an eight-pound-an-hour wage. I remember being told to just cut my hours and ask Child Tax Credits to top up the rest. But I couldn’t afford to do that—my wage was barely covering what I needed as it was.
I ended up taking a second job with Age UK, which I did really enjoy. It wasn’t much—just one day a week—but it made all the difference. That extra bit of money allowed me to keep going. But if I had been earning what the warehouse staff were, things would have been so different. Just an extra £3 an hour would have made a massive difference to my life and to my ability to care for my granddaughter without the constant worry of making ends meet.
Why I’m Encouraging Tesco Workers to Join the Claim
If you’re reading this and have ever worked for Tesco, whether you’re still there or have left, I can’t stress this enough: join the claim. You deserve to be paid fairly for the hard work you’ve done. If Tesco owes you money for the years you’ve worked, why shouldn’t you claim it? I’ve spoken to countless former colleagues who’ve joined the claim, and many more who are thinking about it. Some are worried that Tesco will find out, or that the company will go under if they lose. But the truth is, they can’t do anything to you. They can’t even find out you’ve joined unless you tell someone. So don’t be afraid. You have nothing to lose and potentially thousands of pounds to gain.
The more people who join, the stronger our case becomes. It’s time to stand up and say, “Enough is enough.” If the Dagenham Ford women could win their fight for fair pay back in the day, then so can we.
A Message to Anyone Unsure About Joining
If you’re unsure about joining, just think of this: what would that extra money mean for you and your family? For me, it would help me replace my old car, which is on its last legs. That car is essential—not just for me, but for my family members who rely on me to get them to their medical appointments. Joining the equal pay claim isn’t just about money—it’s about justice and fairness. So if you’ve worked for Tesco and feel that you’ve been underpaid, please consider joining the claim today. You can make a difference, not just for yourself, but for all the hard-working men and women who deserve better.
Written by Christine Sepahi, former Tesco employee. This is my story, and it could be yours too.
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