Asda DC staff have expressed support for possible industrial action over pay, after unions rejected its latest pay offer.
The GMB balloted their 8,000 Asda members in a consultative vote, including those working in driver, warehouse, and clerical roles.
It said 95% of those who voted had said they were willing to take industrial action over what it called real terms pay cut
In February, an overwhelming majority voted to reject base rate increases to warehouse and clerical staff ranging from 4.98% to 6.10% and 6.49% to 7.53% for transport staff.
Asda then went back to the union with two offers on the table, of up to 7.49% for warehouse and clerical staff and up to 8.31% for transport workers.
The union rejected the demands without formally putting it to workers.
The GMB said Asda was trying to force through a pay deal which would see workers lose sick pay entitlement - including the first three days of paid sick pay in any sickness absence and the last 13 to 26 weeks of sick pay
The union said it would now meet with members to discuss next steps.
“This ballot result show how angry Asda workers are,” said GMB national officer Nadine Houghton.
“They’re being asked to swallow real terms pay cut while Asda’s top brass give themselves a hefty pay rise.
“There’s no way these keyworkers should be forced into self-funding their own pay rise via cuts to their sick pay.
“We will now meet with members to discuss next steps.”
An Asda spokesman said: ““We have made two improved pay offers which would see warehouse salaries increase to up to £13.89 per hour and transport salaries to up to £16.25 per hour.
”This is a fair, competitive and sustainable offer and we are disappointed it was rejected by the GMB without giving their members the chance to vote on the proposal. It is normal during the course of negotiations to seek ways to help fund additional investment in pay and the offer we have made both increases the rate of pay for workers and retains a sickness pay and policy that is in line with the market.
”Any talk of industrial action is premature as there is an agreed framework in place including independent conciliation and arbitration at Acas if necessary, as part of our longstanding, agreed dispute resolution process.”
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