Asda is facing potential strike action as a result of its proposals on shift changes which could put almost 300 jobs at risk.
According to reporting by Sky News, representitives of trade union GMB discussed Asda’s proposals yesterday (26 January) and claimed they were “unworkable”.
The plans which were unveiled by the Big 4 grocer on Thursday include replacing overnight ambient and frozen shifts in 184 smaller superstores, which could lead to the removal of up to 211 night shift manager roles and a change to working patterns for around 4,137 hourly-paid colleagues.
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It is also proposing to reduce opening hours for all 23 in-store Post Office branches by 25%, which would affect 23 salaried Post Office Managers and 200 hourly-paid colleagues, as well as closing seven of its 254 in-store pharmacies which would affect 48 hourly-paid colleagues and 14 pharmacists.
As a response, GMB has said many staff are unable to manage pay hits amid the cost-of-living crisis and added that a large number were expected to take redundancy under the current proposals.
The union is currently looking to avoid a strike ballot and to work with Asda to secure concessions during the official consultation period.
“Many Asda workers feel this is just a cost cutting measure, needed to alleviate the financial pressure of the debt leveraged bonanza to buy Asda – but it’s going to hit some of the lowest paid retail workers on the high street,” national officer Nadine Houghton said in a statement to Sky News.
“These changes to night-time replenishment have outraged night workers, who will now lose between £300 and £500 a month.
“Many say they will not be able to afford to take the new hours being offered due to the loss of night enhancements and hours. We could see significant job losses.”
3 Comments. Leave new
I think we can safely say night managers like all store managers are on rather a lot of money. And this is in all retailers. Are they worth it no. And most get paid for not grafting anyway. More the title. It’s the hourly paid staff that do most of the work.
As someone who works nights. We all think it’s just so the owners can have more money to finish there multi million pound houses that they are building. Not a nice way to say thanks for keeping the shops open during the covd lockdown.
It is typical of the new owners I can tell you, they are worse than WALMART WAS, staff leave or retire and are not replaced, I would support the worker’s down South striking but it won’t happen, lack of union membership and the fact GMB Union are not left-wing enough, they were one of the few who did not back Corbyn in 2017. As an ASDA worker thanks for this. I don’t shop their much ALDI is better. USDAW at TESCO just agrees with everything GMB Union at ASDA is better but there’s a lack of membership so things like this although the union speaks out about it, it not as strong as other sectors due to lack of membership. As an ASDA worker I would support those down South going on striking cutting wages in a cost of living crisis is nasty. Compared it to ALDI starting pay for Aldi Store Assistants will increase to £11.00 per hour nationally and £12.45 within the M25, from 1st January 2023
Pay rates rise further to £11.90 nationally and £12.75 within the M25 based on length of service. I can’t imagine they or TESCO would change this premium for workers near London as ASDA new owner’s the ISSA brothers are.