Asda staff given 18p pay rise as thousands prepare to lose their jobs this weekend

Thousands of Asda workers are set to get an 18p pay rise as the grocer prepares to axe staff who have refused to sign a new 'flexible' contract.

The supermarket is increasing the hourly rate for staff in the UK to £9.18 on April 1 - and £10.31 for those in London.

However in line with new contracts, staff will benefit from an additional raise this coming Sunday.

In line with the changes, those currently on £8.21 an hour will see their pay jump to £9 from November 3.

In London, retail staff who receive £8.80 per hour will see their pay increase to £10.11.

The pay rise will be given to more than 100,000 Asda shop-floor workers around the country - however won't apply to those who have refused to sign a controversial new "flexible 6" contract.

Under these new working terms, paid breaks will be scrapped, while working Bank Holidays will become compulsory, in exchange for a new £9 an hour wage.

Asda staff say forced new contract changes have turned them into "prisoners"

And, under the deal, .

The supermarket’s staff have claimed they will be £500 a year worse off under the new arrangements, as well as losing eight days’ annual leave through loss of bank holidays.

Unions have also warned that those with childcare commitments or second jobs will lose out - because the new contract requires staff to work different shifts on a "flexible" basis.

But Asda insisted that staff will benefit from the changes, that will streamline all workers onto the same contract.

The supermarket said the pay rise announcement should reassure workers "despite an unpredictable economic landscape and challenging market".

Union bosses claim the rate rise is used as "a smokescreen to distract" the public from the reality of the changes.

Gary Carter, GMB national officer, said: Asda are using this 18p rise as a smokescreen to distract from the fact they plan to sack workers this weekend unless they sign a punishing new contract."

"It is unprecedented to announce an April pay rise in October – and Asda are clearly feeling the heat of opposition to the imposition of this contract."

"We do not yet know what inflation will be by that point, and so this could end up failing to keep pace with the cost of living."