Pickstone v Freemans [1989] AC 66

Plaintiff was being paid less than her male counterpart by Respondent for the same work.

The HL said that they should construe the Equal Pay Act 1970 within the meaning of the EEC treaty article (following the Marleasing ruling) and therefore they found in favour of the claimants since the EC principle of “equal pay for equal work” applied.

• Again this is the HL deciding the matter of the operation of EC law for themselves.

• HL said there was a presumption that parliament wouldn’t legislate in breach of international obligations and therefore HL should operate on the presumption that British legislation was intended to comply with EC directives, treaty articles, etc.