Over 3,500 current and former employees of UK retailer Next have won a landmark equal pay claim after a six-year legal battle. An employment tribunal ruled that Next failed to prove that the lower wages paid to predominantly female sales consultants compared to mostly male warehouse workers were not due to sex discrimination. Next argued the pay difference was due to market rates and business viability, but the tribunal found these reasons insufficient to justify the discriminatory pay gap. The ruling entitles the claimants to back pay estimated at over £30 million. This is the first successful equal pay claim of its type against a national retailer and could encourage similar claims at other major retailers. Next plans to appeal the decision.