‘GMB members used to be proud to work for Asda, but this once great supermarket is being driven into the ground,’ said the GMB union’s Keith Dixon
Asda workers in Lowestoft are set to strike for 48 hours over a dispute regarding pay and conditions.
The GMB union has stated that nearly 200 of its members at the supermarket giant’s store in Lowestoft, Suffolk, will stage a walkout on May 10, citing a “litany” of workplace issues. This makes Lowestoft the latest Asda location to face a strike, following recent walkouts by workers in Gosport and Wisbech.
Brighton workers have also voted in favour of striking, while GMB members at Asda in Wealdstone will be voting on potential strike action in the upcoming weeks. GMB regional organiser Keith Dixon commented: “GMB members used to be proud to work for Asda, but this once great supermarket is being driven into the ground.”
He added: “Standards across stores are falling there are thousands of health and safety breaches, including blocked fire exits, fire routes and fire extinguishers, along with faulty fire alarm systems. Meanwhile, an estimated eight million worker hours have been cut across Asda stores, so things are only going to get worse. Asda workers have had enough and are flexing their industrial muscle to make bosses do something about it.”
Asda said 122 employees at Lowestoft voted in favour of strikes, not the 200 GMB claimed. This is out of over 260 total staff at the store. Asda added that while GMB members at the Brighton Hollingbury store have also voted to strike, workers at Brighton Marina store voted not to move forward with industrial action for the second time in the space of a month.
An Asda spokesperson: “While we are disappointed that the GMB has taken this course of action, we can reassure customers that we have processes in place to minimise any disruption as a result of industrial action by the GMB at our Lowestoft store. We have taken practical steps in Lowestoft to address the points raised by the GMB and will continue to engage with their representatives with the aim of reaching an amicable solution for all parties.”
