Asda employees at its Wisbech store are set to walk out for the second time in a dispute over working conditions.
GMB Union confirmed that over 150 workers at the superstore in Cambridgeshire will walk out of the store from 3am to 10pm on 2 August.
It said the employees were angry over cuts in hours, poor quality training, bullying management, fire safety breaches, as well as health and safety issues not being addressed.
It also claimed that Asda workers were upset over equal pay not being resolved in a timely manner no collective bargaining with the GMB.
The union said that despite meeting with senior management following the previous strike in Wisbech in March, staff have “no confidence any of the issues are being properly addressed”.
Related Story
Asda rejected the claims put forward by the GMB and said it had “addressed and responded to each of the points they have raised”.
The supermarket said it had received feedback from local GMB representatives in the Wisbech store and added they “were pleased with the steps we have taken to address the issues raised”.
GMB regional organiser Keith Dixon said: “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.”
An Asda spokesperson said: “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.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
