Why won’t Asda protect the workers it relied on during the pandemic against cost of living crisis?
GMB Union has written to Asda bosses criticising them for forcing a real terms pay cut on almost 150,000 retail workers.
The supermarket giant has imposed a pay increase of just 3.25 per cent on retail workers – far below the current inflation rate of 7.8 per cent.
It has also made a pay offer for next year which runs the risk of taking workers below the national minimum wage, which the low pay commission predicts could reach £10:18 in 2023 on the current trajectory.
Asda is now behind the curve on pay compared to other supermarkets, GMB says in a letter to the company’s senior vice president.
Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said:
"Asda won’t allow GMB to negotiate pay for our thousands of retail members.
“Still, it’s hard to understand why they’re happy to be the worst paying supermarket.
“Why don’t want to protect their low paid workers against the biggest cost of living crisis in 30 years after Asda relied on them during the pandemic?
“Based on Low Pay Commission estimates, this pay cut will make Asda a minimum wage employer next year. That’s not good for Asda and it’s certainly not good for our members.
“GMB members are angry. We will be meeting with them in the coming weeks to discuss next steps, which could include protests. Many of our members have also been asking us about the potential for an industrial action ballot and this is something we will consider.”
