Asda workers in Lowestoft voting on whether to take strike action
Nearly 200 employees say their mental health and well-being are badly affected by poor working conditions
A union rep for nearly 200 Asda workers at a store in Lowestoft says their mental health and well-being is being badly affected by poor working conditions.
Workers at the store are currently voting on whether to go on strike - if they do they'd be among the first Asda staff in the country to take industrial action.
We spoke Keith Dixon from the GMB union who told us the main points they are unhappy with:
- Cuts in hours
- Poor quality of training
- Bullying and unprofessional management
- Health and safety issues not being addressed
- Fire safety breaches rampant throughout the store
- Lack of collective union bargaining
- Failure to resolve equal pay case
Keith Dixon, GMB Regional Organiser, said: “Asda is in a mess.
“Head office failures are being felt by workers; their hours are being cut, the training is poor and health and safety is virtually non-existent, with thousands of breaches at stores across the UK
"It’s no wonder they are angry.
“Asda Lowestoft workers will now have the chance to send a message to Asda bosses; buck up your ideas or we will walk out.”
He continuing, telling us: "We want them to bring something to the table...
"After years of burying their head in the sand, it's time to act and do something."
What do Asda bosses say?
A spokesperson for Asda said:
"All colleagues go through training when they join Asda, including health and safety training, and this training is regularly repeated.
"Management colleagues go through extra training and all store management and for all section leaders, Fire Warden training is renewed annually."
Responding to claims of health and safety issues and fire safety breaches, the spokesperson continued: "We have asked the GMB to provide evidence of these breaches throughout all of our conversations, but the GMB refuse to provide this.
"In previous examples, the GMB have suggested that there are breaches and we have found that there aren’t."
The GMB ballot will close on on 26th March.