Asda workers are facing the sack unless they ‘sign a punishing new contract’

Asda


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A campaign by workers and the GMB union is fighting back for Asda workers who are facing the sack in “12 weeks’ time unless they sign a punishing new contract”.

So far, over 10,000 people have signed a petition supporting the workers. And people are tweeting to say they stand with staff by using the hashtag #AsdaRespectYourWorkers.

New contracts

The new contracts will mean that Asda staff lose some of the benefits they currently receive. In some cases, this includes cutting paid breaks and being forced to work on bank holidays. One worker told the Mirror how they felt “trapped” and that:

They are not prison officers and we are not in prison, it would be nice to be spoken to as an equal.

According to the GMB, the new contracts mean that many people – including single parents and those caring for elderly relatives – are being forced to give up work. The union also released the following video about the new contracts:

Protest

In Leeds, where Asda’s HQ is, people are marching against the new contracts.

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GMB national officer Justin Bowden explained that:

In the boardroom it may be all about the bottom line but out in the stores this is about real people’s lives being pulled apart with often devastating consequences. This is about values and reasonableness and respect for hard-working staff from a billion-pound company.

People travelled to the protest from across the country:

And protesters sent a “clear message” to bosses:

Asda’s current owner is Walmart – which is reportedly the world’s biggest company and is owned by the world’s richest family. Critics have long accused Walmart of exploiting its workers and avoiding billions of dollars in tax.

#AsdaRespectYourWorkers

Many people on Twitter, meanwhile, voiced support for the campaign. Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft said:

Lawyer and filmmaker Peter Stefanovic also stood up for Asda workers:

Other people insisted that they would no longer be shopping at Asda:

Asda is hopefully now seeing the strength of the campaign. But we all need to keep up the pressure and make sure the company cannot get away with this despicable treatment of its workers.

Featured image via Wikimedia/Kicior99

Get involved

  • Sign the petition.
  • Show that you stand with Asda workers and tweet #AsdaRespectYourWorkers.

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  • Show Comments

    1. Asda workers are facing the sack unless,
      they ‘sign a punishing new contract’

      COME ON ASDA Bosses + Managers tell the truth here
      To your workers of what could be or maybe going on.
      ///
      Just to ask Manager + Bosses of All ASDA stores!
      Was this contract made up to remove British worker from ASDA store so ASDA can set on more migrant worker before we leave E.U. /And as a result of getting rid of British worker so they can Pay s**t wages to the migrant people they employee to take the place of the British workers force NOW before Oct dead line.
      //
      Or was this contract made up to punish Tory Govt that stopped the Merging with another Big supermarket chain as ASDA was hell bent on doing but Tory Govt Minister stopped them from merging.
      //
      We British worker must also remember that ASDA said it had the cash to merge with over supermarket chains ,So they is NO need for This new contract to save ASDA cash as they admitted to Gov they have good funding to merge, so must still have that good funding still in their bank account again this contract is Not about cash they is more going on here with Tory Minister + ASDA Bosses.
      ///
      Therefore, I politely say to all Manager of all ASDA store if you enforce this NEW contract on your front line workers be aware they could or maybe a big price to pay in your careers with ASDA or any over jobs you may apply for in U.K. areas remembering it is your job as Manager to look after the work force first Not ASDA broad members big cash payments to them all personally.

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