Rob Delaney and Paul Mcgann enter Asda, GMB Contract 6 spat

An American comedian, actor and writer and former Dr Who have had their say on a controversial new Asda workers’ contract.

The grocery giant is offering staff a higher wage in exchange for its Contract 6 that would introduce unpaid breaks and a requirement to work on bank holidays. But the GMB union claims that staff will be sacked on 2nd November if they don’t agree to the new deal. And they will also not be paid for any sick leave until they do.

Dr Who star Mcgann, who also starred in Withnail and I (one of the best films ever made - Ed) and Aliens 3 (not one of the best films ever made - Ed), and Rob Delaney, who appeared in Catastrophe and Deadpool 2, both leant their support ahead of a protest in Leeds on Wednesday.

The former was snapped holding a ‘standing with Asda workers’ placard, while the latter tweeted GMB’s ‘Asda respect your workers’ video, which has thus far reached more than four million people online. A petition calling on Asda to treat its workers with respect has now received over 23,000 signatures.

“Asda workers know everyone is backing them, from film and TV stars to political heavyweights and the hundreds heading to Leeds to protest this week. Everyone but Asda bosses basically,” says Gary Carter, GMB National Officer.

“This new contract, with the contractual changes it brings, is forcing workers to choose between looking after their disabled son, elderly mother or vulnerable partner and losing their job – it’s just not right. We’re calling on Asda to respect its workforce and offer dedicated, long-serving staff a better deal.”

Asda responds

“The retail sector is immensely competitive and it is important that we are able to serve our customers in the best way to meet their needs. This contract is about increasing the take home pay of more than 100,000 retail colleagues, through an investment of more than £80 million, and ensuring that everyone doing the same job is on the same terms and conditions,” an Asda spokesperson told RTIH.

“The overwhelming majority of our colleagues from across all our stores have signed onto the new contracts and while we appreciate that some of our colleagues find the changes more unsettling, we do not want any of them to leave. We understand colleagues have commitments outside of work and will not be asking them to constantly move the time they work, their days or departments.”