Four Asda sites in the south of England could face industrial action in the new year, after staff at its Gosport store voted to strike recently.
The GMB trade union revealed staff at the Gosport superstore in Hampshire would strike from 12 January to 28 January last week.
A further three unnamed stores have since claimed they are seeking to do the same.
Concerns over health and safety, wages, and a work culture that the GMB described as “toxic” were raised by workers at the Gosport store.
GMB sent the chain a dossier of 21 problems, seen by The Sunday Times, which included claims that fire safety exits had been blocked by rubbish and stock, compromising safety, and that accidents and workplace incidents were “not taken seriously”.
GMB regional organiser in the south of England Nicky Nixon said: “There are issues constantly being reported to us at Asda stores, it’s just that Gosport was the first store willing to do something about it.
“Members at four other stores are saying ‘we want to do what they’re doing’.”
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The trade union’s southern branch said it had met with the supermarket multiple times concerning problems in its Gosport site before balloting members for strike.
An Asda spokesman said: “We take health and safety and colleague wellbeing very seriously and have established processes in place for colleagues to raise any concerns.
“We have advised representatives of the GMB of the actions we have taken and will continue to engage with representatives at the Gosport store to resolve their concerns.”
He continued: “While any action that has the potential to cause disruption for colleagues and customers is unwelcome, we are confident that we can keep this to a minimum.
“We are unaware of other stores wishing to take part in any industrial action.”
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