Asda workers at its Lowestoft store are gearing up to strike for 48 hours this weekend, despite the supermarket chain claiming it had “practical steps” to address the issue.
At least a hundred employees at the East Suffolk branch are understood to be walking out from 00:01 on Friday 10 May until 23.59 on Saturday 11 May, prompted by “a litany of workplace problems”, according to GMB union.
Among issues raised by the union, it stated workers were striking over anger at cuts in hours; ‘poor’ quality training; bullying management; unaddressed health and safety issues; and frequent breaches of fire safety.
Other issues reported by the union include equal pay not being resolved in a “timely manner” and no collective bargaining with the GMB.
GMB union regional organiser Keith Dixon said: “GMB members used to be proud to work for Asda, but this once great supermarket is being driven into the ground. Standards across stores are falling – there are thousands of health and safety breaches, including blocked fire exits, fire routes, and fire extinguishers, along with faulty fire alarm systems.
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“Meanwhile an estimated eight million worker hours have been cut across Asda stores, so things are only going to get worse. Asda workers have had enough and are flexing their industrial muscle to make bosses do something about it.”
In response, Asda has flagged discrepancies in the GMB union’s account, such as the number of staff striking to the issues raised.
Despite the GMB union claims that 200 workers will engage in industrial action, the supermarket giant maintains only 122 colleagues voted in favour of strike action, out of over 260 total colleagues at the store – less than half of its workers.
The grocery retailer also revealed it had met with the GMB frequently over the last few months and had resolved their local concerns.
A spokesperson for Asda added: “While we are disappointed that the GMB has taken this course of action, we can reassure customers that the Lowestoft store will open as usual over the weekend. We have taken practical steps in Lowestoft to address the points raised by the GMB and will continue to engage with their representatives with the aim of reaching an amicable solution for all parties.”
It comes as the third in a series of strikes for the supermarket giant, after workers in Gosport and Wisbech also walked out amid disputes with Asda in recent months.
