Almost one thousand workers in two warehouses operated by Morrisons are set to take strike action over the coming weeks in a dispute over changes to their pension contributions, which unions claim could leave some people £500 worse off.
Over the last couple of weeks, members of the Unite union working as warehouse stock controllers, cooks, canteen staff, and administrators were balloted for strike action to protect their pensions and take-home pay. Unite has now revealed that the workers voted overwhelmingly for strike action, which will take place over six days in May and June.
Staff based at the warehouses in Cheshire and Wakefield support the distribution of products to nearly 500 Morrisons supermarkets and convenience stores.
The strikes will begin at 5am on Thursday 23 May until 5am on Sunday 26 May, and then again from 5am on Thursday 13 June until 5am on Sunday 16 June.
“Unite is focussed on our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and these unmerited changes to workers’ pensions will leave our members worse off every month,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
“Unite will not stand for such behaviour from any employer, let alone one like Morrisons who is raking in massive profits during a cost-of-living crisis. Its flagrant profiteering and then cutting our members’ take-home pay is a disgrace.”
Unite alleges that workers are being forced to increase their own pension contributions while Morrisons reduces its own contributions by the same amount.
Other changes that the union has objected to include workers being compelled to adopt a new ‘pick rate’ (the speed at which items are packed from the warehouse shelves), the removal of a service award, enforced changes to job roles, and a failure to follow absence policies correctly.
Unite national officer Adrian Jones added: “Despite our best efforts over a number of meetings, it seems that Morrisons are not interested in resolving this dispute as they have refused to negotiate over the changes to our members’ pensions and long service awards.
“Along with several other issues, we have attempted to get management to see sense and find a way forward but to no avail. Morrisons will now witness the anger and ill-feeling of our members when they see them on picket lines outside their warehouses.”
The Morrisons strike comes as Asda faces industrial action today. Almost 200 workers at its Lowestoft store are striking for 48 hours in protests over cuts in hours, alleged health and safety issues, and the lack of collective bargaining with the GMB union.
A spokesperson for Asda commented: “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.”
NAM Implications:
- The key is the extent to which these disputes spill over into the aisles.
- Shoppers have little interest/understanding of a company’s debt issues…
- …and so will be guided by consequential fallout in terms of on-shelf availability…
- …and may choose to vote with their feet.
