Samira Ahmed takes 大象传媒 to court over equal pay

Image source, 大象传媒

Image caption, Ahmed worked for Channel 4 from 2000 to 2011

大象传媒 presenter Samira Ahmed is taking the 大象传媒 to an employment tribunal over alleged unequal pay.

According to court listings, Ahmed's case is due to be heard over five days from next Monday.

The papers allege "failure to provide equal pay for equal value work" under the Equality Act 2010.

Ahmed presents Newswatch, which examines 大象传媒 editorial decisions, and the Radio 4 arts show Front Row. The 大象传媒 has declined to comment.

Ahmed began her career as a 大象传媒 News trainee in 1990 and has worked as a news correspondent and a reporter on 大象传媒 Radio 4's Today programme and 大象传媒 Two's Newsnight.

She covered the OJ Simpson case as the 大象传媒's Los Angeles correspondent and was a presenter and reporter at Channel 4 News from 2000 to 2011.

大象传媒 News has asked Ahmed for a comment on the employment tribunal.

The 51-year-old is not the first woman to take issue at the corporation's pay structure. Carrie Gracie previously resigned from her role as China editor in a dispute over equal pay.

Image caption, Carrie Gracie resigned from her role as the 大象传媒's China editor

The 大象传媒 then apologised for underpaying her and said it "has now put this right" by giving her back pay.

She donated the full, undisclosed amount to the Fawcett Society - a charity that campaigns for gender equality and women's rights.

'Progress'

The issue of gender pay inequality at the 大象传媒 came to a head in July 2017, when it was revealed its best-paid star, Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans, made between 拢2.2m and 拢2.25m in 2016/2017. During the same period its highest-paid female presenter, Claudia Winkleman, earned between 拢450,000 and 拢500,000.

About two-thirds of stars earning more than 拢150,000 - and all of the top seven earners - were male, the annual report revealed.

Director general Tony Hall said there is "more to do" on gender and diversity and in September 2017 the 大象传媒 announced sweeping pay reviews.

Six male 大象传媒 presenters, including Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell and John Humphrys, agreed to pay cuts in January 2018, to help level the playing field.

The 大象传媒's most recent annual review showed an improvement for women, with Winkleman, Zoe Ball and Vanessa Feltz now among the corporation's top earners.

Rights watchdog, The Equality and Human Rights Commission, is investigating the 大象传媒 over pay historical gender pay discrimination.

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