Zero Hours Contract Advice please!

[GoldSpun]

Any advice so appreciated!

I am employed in the private sector as a casual worker on a zero hours contract and have been working for the company for roughly 6 years in total with a gap of 2 years in the middle.

The wages were decreased in 2017, across the board for casual workers. They have been the same since with no pay rise for casual staff (a 6% increase for contracted staff last year!).

I recently discovered that other zero hours casual workers in our department who are doing the same job as me (same title, hours, contract, job description etc) are being paid £20 more than me per day and have been for some years.
We are the same age with the same level of experience.
They are male, I am female.

I have been offered a contract with the company in question and turned it down.

My question is…
With all the above in mind, is my employer breaking the law by paying my colleagues and I different day rates, when everything else about our roles is the same?

Thank you so much in advance for any advice!!

[ULA]

Even on a zero hours contract you have protection from discrimination and if your role is the same as other male colleagues and you are being paid at a lower rate then potentially there would be an issue of equal pay.

I would suggest that in the first instance you raise this informally either with your manager or HR.