Thousands of Asda workers told to sign “punitive” new contracts or face the sack

Workers at the grocer will be protesting on 14 August over new contracts that will see their holiday allowances cut and paid breaks scrapped

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Documents reveal the supermarket giant will terminate the employment of anyone who turns down the revised terms.

One staff member has told how she will lose eight days’ annual leave and be left £500 a year worse off.

Documents seen by the Sunday Mail reveal the American-owned supermarket giant will terminate the employment of anyone who turns down the revised terms.

Asda has insisted the contract change represents a £80 million investment as many members of staff will get a pay rise.

A worker at a Scottish store, who didn’t want to be named for fear of losing her job, said: “I am disgusted. I have worked for this company for over 10 years and yet the management seem to think they can treat me like dirt.

They are saying the hourly rate is going to go up to £9 an hour under the new contract but everyone knows that will be roughly in line with the minimum wage anyway.

“So it is clearly just a money-saving exercise that will leave hundreds of people worse off.

“On my existing deal, I have eight paid bank holidays that will be cut and I won’t get paid for my tea breaks so, all in, I’ll be about £500 a year down easily.”

A Q&A leaflet given to workers and passed to the Sunday Mail outlines Asda’s plan to get rid of workers who don’t want to sign up to the new terms.

It states: “You will have a number of 121s with your manager. As part of the 121 process, we hope you agree to move to the new contract.

“If you still don’t want to sign up to the new contract after those 121s, at that stage, we would issue notice to terminate your employment on your existing terms and conditions.

“We will offer to re-engage you on the new terms. If you choose not to accept the new terms, you would leave the business.”

Asda is owned by US retail conglomerate Walmart, one of the world’s largest companies.

Its “strong-arm tactics” have been heavily criticised by the GMB trade union, who believe 13,000 workers in Scotland will be affected.

It’s a total outrage that Asda bosses are threatening staff with the sack if they don’t agree to this flawed contract. Shoppers will be horrified.

National officer Gary Carter said: “It’s a total outrage that Asda bosses are threatening staff with the sack if they don’t agree to this flawed contract. Shoppers will be horrified.

“Our hard-working members are telling us they are being forced into signing these new contracts for fear of not being able to pay the bills. Instead of strong-arm tactics, Asda needs to listen to the workers.”

Asda said: “This contract will see Asda invest in a pay increase for over 100,000 retail colleagues as well as enabling us to deliver better service to our customers.

We are continuing to talk to our colleagues about this change.

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