Asda merger update and resources
- Gary Carter
- May 1, 2018
- 2 min read
“I want to be very clear. GMB will fight for every job, every penny of pay and every right you have at work.” – Tim Roache, General Secretary, GMB
Immediate action on merger news
As soon as the news about the potential merger leaked out, GMB set about ensuring that jobs, pay, terms and conditions are up front and centre in the discussion. We had hundreds of members contact us over the weekend to ask what is happening – no worker should find out in the press, or from friends on Facebook that there are potential changes to their work. That’s just plain wrong.
From the second the news broke over the weekend, to the time this newsletter was printed GMB has been on the airwaves, in the papers and on online telling the world that your job must come first. We have spoken to the Minister and MPs. Importantly, we have also spoken to Asda. I have demanded a meeting at the earliest possible time.
What we’re calling for
An urgent meeting: we understand that Asda got in touch with their employees after the official statement at 7am on Monday, April 30th. The General Secretary and National Officer have said they will clear their diaries and meet with Asda anywhere, at any time.
Assurances on jobs: GMB wants guarantees from Asda that not a single job will be lost in stores or in distribution.
Guarantees on pay and conditions: many colleagues already agreed to contract changes to help the company be more competitive, and are certainly not happy about this being dropped on them now. Your union wants a guarantee that pay, terms and conditions will at the very least remain the same.
Clarity: it’s likely that the merger will have to be assessed because if Asda and Sainsbury’s combine, it’ll make the biggest supermarket in British history.
That has implications for competition. That cannot give rise to months – or years – of insecurity an instability for Asda workers.
What you can do
Spread the word, sign up colleagues to GMB: there has never been a more important time to be a GMB member at Asda. Tens of thousands of Asda workers are already fellow members, but too many aren’t.
Make sure your colleagues have the same legal and workplace support you do by asking them to join. They can fill in a form or join online at www.gmb.org.uk/join.
The more of us there are, the stronger our voice. GMB will fight to make sure workers’ voices are heard if this merger progresses.
Resources
This post is available to download as a PDF bulletin for reps to print and distribute by clicking here: www.gmb.org.uk/asda-update.pdf
You can download a square social media graphic by clicking here (for Facebook & Instagram) and a rectangle version by clicking here (for Twitter)
You can download a PDF recruitment poster for workplaces by clicking here
And you can view GMB National Officer Gary Carter / General Secretary Tim Roache give interviews on BBC, Sky and others via our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/gmbunion
