Thousands of Asda workers indicated they are ready to take strike action over the lack of sick pay.
The GMB union has balloted their 8,000 GMB members working in driver, warehouse and clerical roles, and a majority 95% voted in favour of taking industrial action over real terms pay cut.
According to the GMB union, the Big 4 grocer is trying to force through a pay deal which would see workers lose sick pay entitlement – including the first three days of paid sick pay in any sickness absence and the last 13 to 26 weeks of sick pay.
The sick pay scheme was introduced in 2012 when Asda distribution workers are at increased risk of workplace stress and musco-skeletal issues due to higher pick rates.
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“This ballot result shows how angry Asda workers are. They’re being asked to swallow a real-terms pay cut while Asda’s top brass give themselves a hefty pay rise,” GMB national officer Nadine Houghton said
“There’s no way these key workers should be forced into self-funding their own pay rise via cuts to their sick pay. We will now meet with members to discuss next steps.”
The news comes after the Big 4 grocer pledged to increase its hourly pay for 120,000 shop floor colleagues to £10.10 per in July.
The pay increase sees Asda staff receive an additional 60p on top of the National Living wage, further supported by a 10% colleague discount in stores and online.
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