Two more Asda superstores mull strike amid management complaints

Two more Asda superstores are undergoing a consultative ballot to gauge support for strike action after claims “complaints have not been dealt with by managers”.

Members of GMB Union at the Brighton Marina and Brighton Hollingbury stores are being balloted over a dossier of more than 20 issues which has been issued to Asda management.

The ballots are set to close on 5 February at Brighton Marina and 9 February at Brighton Hollingbury, and will lead to formal industrial action ballots if the members vote in favour of taking action.

The union said complaints detailed in the document include a lack of hours, poor contracts, issues around health and safety not being dealt with in a timely manner, staff training not being fit for purpose and a high turnover of staff.

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It comes at the same time Asda employees at its Wisbech branch are due to vote in a ballot amid claims by the GMB union of workers facing a cut in hours and “management bullying”.

Another strike at Asda’s Gosport superstore has been suspended for the third time “to allow a ballot of GMB members on the proposals put forward by Asda.”

GMB regional organiser Nicola Nixon said: “Following on from the successful strike ballot in Asda Gosport we received several calls from members in these two Brighton stores keen to join in and take action.

“The members have come up with more than 20 issues that they feel are not being addressed properly by management, and these look incredibly similar to those submitted in Gosport.

“Asda owners the Issa brothers and their financial backers TDR Capital need to step up to the plate and address these issues head on, or we will just see ballot after ballot across the country until our members feel listened to.

“Both TDR Capital and Asda would do well to talk to GMB and nip this dispute in the bud before it snowballs and starts affecting a much larger number of stores.”

An Asda spokesperson said: “We have established processes in place for colleagues to raise any issues or concerns that they may have. Providing a safe working environment where all colleagues are treated with respect is of paramount importance to us and if colleagues have  concerns we would ask these are brought to the attention of a manager immediately so they can be investigated and promptly resolved.”