GMB has criticized B&M for its acquisition of 51 Wilko stores while leaving the job security of employees uncertain.
PA news agency understands that approximately 1,000 jobs are at risk at shops bought by B&M in a deal earlier this week for £13m.
The deal only includes Wilko’s properties and will not transfer workers currently based at these sites.
Every single Wilko redundancy is a person who will wake up facing an uncertain future.
This needs to be at the top of everyone’s minds.
Years of mismanagement have led us here.
We are doing everything to secure a deal that would protect the majority of Wilko jobs and stores.
— GMB Union (@GMB_union) September 5, 2023
Shops are expected to reopen under the B&M branding, although some could open under the Heron frozen foods brand also owned by B&M European Value Retail.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
The GMB union, which represents more than 3,000 Wilko staff, has called for B&M to explain why it has opted against saving the jobs of workers at those shops.
GMB national officer Andy Prendergast said: “The fact the deal with B&M is for physical stores only is frankly baffling. The company really needs to be explain why they are unwilling to transfer in the able, experienced retail staff they will obviously need.
“It looks like a cynical attempt to ditch liabilities and reinforces the view people are treated as the least important part of in this process. Frankly, the workforce deserve better.”
The locations of 51 shops bought by B&M have not been announced.
Earlier this week administrators also said Wilko will be closing 52 stores, making more than 1,300 staff redundant as talks continue with potential buyers for the remainder of the business.
Administrator PwC said it was “actively working with potential buyers”, however the 52 stores set to close “do not form part of any ongoing interest in the Wilko store portfolio”.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
9 Comments. Leave new
The above is just not true. The GMB have been very vocal and available so far during the administration process. They have held regular briefings for team members and can only inform their members what they are being told by PWC.
I’m not defending the practice by any means but having been there and done that myself, more than once, I can safely say that it’s always the staff who are the last to find out. I wish them all the best, but I also hope they’re proactively looking at their own options to should the worst happen in their particular areas or stores.
After working with this “Union” in my work place for 20 years+ I can hand in heart say what a waste of time they are. They do absolutely nothing for the shop floor workers on site, their presence is minimal and reps uninterested and under qualified. However, when something comes along like this, with national interest, they show their presence. Not once have i or any of my colleagues been spoken to in person or via telephone by them. The administrators PWC have come in and spoken to us but the GMB have disappeared and failed to respond to calls/emails. Every now and then a brief goes out but that’s only when something is already leaked to the media. They hike monthly costs every year for what? The GMB are a disgrace of a union. There is nothing more to say.
I totally agree they are in the management’s pockets all the time
I did read that Aldi are looking to recruit 1000 or so new staff so I’d be straight across to them instead of waiting for the final nail in the coffin
Half the staff should have jumped ship months back if not more when wilko reported losses after losses, selling and leasing back it depo for double the price it sold it for and when the company announced it to get a loan for 40m to get equity within the business. So many alarms bells but people stood still waiting for the hammer to hit them. When I worked at Debenhams I told my store manager and area manager that the company wouldn’t be around within 18 months and that’s why I was leaving the business. They laughed me out the office but I had the last laugh as I stood outside my old store grinning like a Cheshire cat at my store & area manager putting the closing down signage in the windows and I mouthed told you! Be as ruthless as the owners they got rich at your expense!
Like all Unions , look at Mick Lynch leading his railway workers down the line to disaster for political reasons ! Useless
Whoever takes these stores over are going to need staff. However some Wilko staff were hard workers while others were usually chatting, usually more senior staff, whenever I was in Wilko
It,s very sad for the shop floor staff at wilcos ,but there is nothing the union can do . As staff at all the biggest supermarkets have found the union is a powerless ? wages & coditions are basically down to government policy & minamum wadge . membership of unions is in decline & will disappear altogether within next ten years.