GMB union slams Asda over controversial Contract 6

Asda is punishing workers who haven’t signed its new Contract 6 by taking away their sick pay, according to the GMB union.

It made the claim ahead of protests which will take place today at Asda stores in Liverpool, London, Hull, Crewe, Dundee, Sheffield, Glasgow, Cwbran, South Shields, Sheffield, Stockport, Portsmouth, Livingston and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Asda is offering staff a higher wage in exchange for the contract that would introduce unpaid breaks and a requirement to work on bank holidays. But the GMB states that staff will be sacked on 2nd November if they don’t agree to the new deal. And now they will not be paid for any sick leave until they do.

Gary Carter, GMB National Officer, says: “Asda workers already feel like they are being treated like dirt over this damaging new contract. Now they are being punished again – if they stand up for their rights, do not sign up to the inferior terms, Asda have said they won't get their contractual sick pay.”

He adds: “By imposing this new contract with the contractual changes it brings, they are forcing people to choose between looking after their disabled son, elderly mother or vulnerable wife and losing their job – it’s just not right. We’re calling on them to respect their 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.”