The U.S. Supreme Court has heard arguments over an effort to bring a massive class action sex-discrimination lawsuit against the retail giant Wal-Mart. On Tuesday, attorneys for Wal-Mart urged justices to block a group of past and current female workers from filing the case. Plaintiff and Wal-Mart worker Betty Dukes said she had brought the suit on behalf of the company’s women employees across the nation.

Betty Dukes: “I brought this case because I believe that there was a pattern of discrimination at Wal-Mart, not just in my store, but I believe it is across the country. Since we have filed our lawsuits in 2001, I have heard from numerous women, telling me basically the same story as mine of disparative treatment in lack of promotion, as well in lack of pay.”