Two more Asda superstores are undergoing a consultative ballot to gauge support for strike action following concerns of how “complaints have not been dealt with by managers”.
Members of the GMB at the supermarket’s Brighton Marina and Brighton Hollingbury stores have begun voting over a dossier of more than 20 issues.
These include complaints such as poor contracts, a lack of hours, issues around health and safety not being dealt with in a timely manner, staff training not being fit for purpose and a high turnover of staff.
The outcome of the ballots, which close on February 5 at Brighton Marina and February 9 at Brighton Hollingbury, could lead to formal industrial action if the members vote in favour of taking action.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
It comes at the same time as workers at Asda’s Wisbech branch are due to vote in a ballot amid claims by the GMB union of “management bullying”.
Meanwhile, a strike at Asda’s Gosport superstore has been suspended for the third time to allow GMB members to review proposals put forward by the supermarket chain.
GMB regional organiser Nicola Nixon said: “Following on from the successful strike ballot in Asda Gosport, we received several calls from members in these two Brighton stores keen to join in and take action.
“The members have come up with more than 20 issues that they feel are not being addressed properly by management, and these look incredibly similar to those submitted in Gosport.
“Asda owners the Issa brothers and their financial backers TDR Capital need to step up to the plate and address these issues head on, or we will just see ballot after ballot across the country until our members feel listened to.
“Both TDR Capital and Asda would do well to talk to GMB and nip this dispute in the bud before it snowballs and starts affecting a much larger number of stores.”
An Asda spokesperson said: “We have established processes in place for colleagues to raise any issues or concerns that they may have. Providing a safe working environment where all colleagues are treated with respect is of paramount importance to us and if colleagues have concerns we would ask these are brought to the attention of a manager immediately so they can be investigated and promptly resolved.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
