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Asda employees at Lowestoft have announced they are set to strike for 48 hours over “a litany” of workplace problems, as GMB Union claims the workers have “had enough”. Some 122 workers voted in favour to strike for 48 hours from 00:01 on Friday 10 May until 23.59 on Saturday 11 May.
According to GMB Union, reasons for the strike include cuts in hours, poor training, fire safety breaches, equal pay not resolved in a timely manner and no collective bargaining with GMB.
Lowestoft will become the third Asda store to face a strike, with workers in Gosport and Wisbech also taking strike action in recent weeks. In addition, workers at Brighton Holingbury have also voted to strike.
Keith Dixon, GMB regional organiser, said: “GMB members used to be proud to work for Asda, but this once great supermarket is being driven into the ground. 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 [1], 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.”
Elsewhere, Asda workers in Wealdstone are set to vote on strike action, as dozens of GMB members, representing almost 70% of the workforce, will take part in a vote between 26 April and 17 May.
Wealdstone marks the fifth Asda store to engage in industrial action.
Dixon added: “Asda Wealdstone – along with stores across the UK – is falling apart. Bosses are stripping the supermarket to the bones and workers are paying the inevitable price. Enough is enough – Asda workers in Wealdstone are making their voices heard.”
An Asda spokesperson told Retail Sector: “While we are disappointed that the GMB has taken this course of action, we can reassure customers that we have processes in place to minimize 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.”
