Photo: Evelyn Simak
Supermarket giant Asda is facing a backlash after enforcing new contracts on all 120,000 of its staff, including those in its Lincoln area stores.
The GMB Union, which represents the Asda staff, says the new terms remove paid breaks, and allow Asda to change workers’ roles, hours, shifts and start and finishing times.
However, an Asda spokesperson responded: “This contract is about fairness for all our colleagues and moves us in line with our competitors.
“We understand people have responsibilities outside of work, we will not be asking them to constantly move the time they work, their days, or department.
“Although we did not want anyone to leave us as a result of this necessary change, around 200 people decided not to sign the contract, an average of less than one person for every two stores.”
Asda has three Lincoln area stores, with a superstore in North Hykeham, an Asda Living in Valentine Retail Park, and a supermarket on Nettleham Road.
Basic pay will rise from £8.21 an hour to £9, and then to £9.18 in April.
A worker from a store in Lincolnshire, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I know they’re giving us a pay rise, but I think that’s just to sugar coat the rest of it.”
They added: “You’re hearing stories of people who have worked at the store for years being sacked because they don’t want to sign away their bank holidays. An 18p pay rise won’t distract people from what they’re missing out on.”
#boycottasda was also trending on Twitter, with a GMB Union poll revealing 37% of people would be less likely to shop there after hearing about the new terms.
A deadline to sign the contract was initially November 2, but, this was extended by a week to give staff more thinking time, with the majority of staff now signing the contract.