Asda is planning to move all its retail staff on to controversial new contracts, the supermarket has announced.
The plans will see all its hourly paid shop staff in England, Scotland and Wales see their wage rise to £9 an hour, but lose paid breaks and have to work bank holidays or book them off as holidays.
Staff could also be asked to agree to work more flexible times and different departments in their store under the new contracts.
Anthony Hemmerdinger, Asda’s operations senior vice president, said: "Our colleagues do an amazing job every day and we want to continue to reward them with a higher rate of pay, plus benefits such as their annual bonus."
He added: “This proposal is also about increasing our basic rate of pay and aligning the way of working in our stores so that everyone has the same contract, making it fairer to all colleagues and ensuring we can consistently provide the best service to customers.”
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But unions were not impressed.
Gary Carter, GMB national officer, said: “We will fight any imposition of these contracts on our members.
"Since Asda introduced its flexible contract two years ago, nearly 60% of employees have opted not to go on the new contract.
“These contract changes will affect nearly 60,000 members of staff they cannot just be imposed from the top."
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The proposed changes include:
- An increase in the basic pay rate to £9 an hour and additional geographic and role premiums
- 28 days annual leave, including Bank Holidays
- Agreement to work Bank Holidays if required by their store (or take as annual leave), with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, which will remain voluntary and paid at double time
- Change in the ‘night shift window’ and increase to night shift ‘premium’
- A move to all breaks being unpaid
All of Asda’s non-pay benefits, including staff discount, pension, sharesave and bonus scheme, remain unchanged.
Asda said it has entered into a collective consultation process with colleagues on the proposed contract change. If the proposals are taken forward, they are expected to take effect in late 2019.
Asda estimates that about 5% of its staff will be worse off - it has proposed transitional payments to these colleagues that it will agree during the consultation period.
The GMB's Carter said: “If they want to roll out the new contract they must listen to employees and sit down with GMB to discuss beneficial improvements to terms and conditions which have the support of the workforce."
