Sainsbury’s, Asda deal ‘leaves bitter taste in workers’ mouths’, GMB

The GMB union has cast doubts on the Sainsbury's/Asda mega merger, which was confirmed this morning, claiming that its members at Asda learned the news while working their Saturday afternoon shifts.

Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary, says: "It remains to be seen if this ‘supermarket sweepstake’ is the real deal or a bargain basement ready meal. Hundreds of thousands of workers stand to be affected, and all know such announcements tend to be followed by management speak like ‘rationalisation’ in the name of ‘efficiency’. What that usually means is job losses or cuts to pay, terms and conditions which would be wholly unacceptable. Not least because Asda workers have already voluntarily agreed to change their contracts to be more flexible in order to play their part and help their employer be more profitable.”

He adds: "The events of the last few days have left a bitter taste in the mouth of Asda workers. Our members are concerned for their futures and angry they’ve been kept in the dark. Asda is a hugely profitable supermarket, posting hundreds of millions in profit and backed by hundreds of billions from their US parent company, Walmart. Its success has been built on the back of its workers and it is they who now need and deserve answers and reassurances about their futures - that’s the least they deserve, and the very least their union will be demanding.” 

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