// Morrisons to ditch 83 property maintenance suppliers
// The plans put over 1,000 jobs at risk
Morrisons plans to ditch at least 83 property maintenance suppliers, placing over 1,000 jobs at risk.
The grocer is looking to shift to a single provider for repairs as it ditches suppliers, many based in its home city of Bradford.
Morrisons is also likely to lay off up to 50 staff dealing with property maintenance at its Bradford head office and around the UK, The Guardian reported.
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The suppliers, some of whom have dealt with Morrisons for decades, were taken on by the chain’s co-founder Ken Morrison.
They have been warned that their contracts are likely to end in July, with more than 200 providers, including subcontractors, understood to be affected and more than 100 head office staff.
Several suppliers said their contracts had been ended in a short video call in which they had not been able to ask questions.
Some Morrisons staff will be transferred to the new sole provider, City Facilities Management, which is based in Glasgow but has offices around the UK.
Some existing suppliers may become subcontractors.
Morrisons said it expected a total of 120 job losses, but suppliers said they had been given no guarantees and expect many more to go.
The grocer said: “We are proposing some important changes and improvements to our maintenance model through a new national partnership with City FM, but we anticipate many of our existing suppliers to continue to work for Morrisons under subcontracting arrangements.
“We are endeavouring to communicate and execute these changes carefully and thoughtfully with all those affected.”
