More than 150 workers at Asda’s store in Wisbech, near Peterborough, are set to take strike action on 2 August for a second time.
The planned walkout relates to poor working conditions, which the GMB union claims the retailer has failed to address. Dispute points include health & safety issues, cuts in hours, poor quality training, and “bullying management”.
The GMB stated that despite meeting with senior management since the previous strike at the Wisbech store in March, staff have “no confidence any of the issues are being properly addressed”.
Keith Dixon, GMB Regional Organiser, added: “Asda Wisbech bosses are fully aware of why workers are angry. But despite several meetings with senior directors, the company seems to be completely missing the point.
“Not one dispute point has been addressed by Asda, while suggestions put forward by GMB have been ignored. Management seems happy to ignore problems, cover them up or brush them under the carpet.
“As a result, Asda Wisbech are returning to the picket line.”
A spokesperson for Asda responded: “We have taken reasonable and practical steps in Wisbech to address the points previously raised by the GMB, and this has been welcomed by our colleagues at the store, most of whom are members of the union. Given this progress, we are disappointed the GMB has chosen a course of action that has the potential to disrupt the local community and hurt colleagues financially.
“We have offered to meet their representatives at Acas to try and reach an amicable solution for all parties. In the meantime, we have robust contingency plans in place and can reassure customers the store will be open as normal should this industrial action go ahead.”
NAM Implications:
- Festering discontent eventually affects shoppers in the aisle…
- (Apart from colleagues in other branches)
- …and Asda can do without this type of ‘distraction’…
- …at times like this.
