GMB union has criticised Asda for falling even further behind competitors on wages after Sainsbury’s announced yet another pay boost.
Surely Asda bosses don’t think Sainsbury’s workers are somehow worth more, asks GMB Union?
Sainsbury’s, a fellow ‘big 4’ supermarket retailer, announced yesterday that workers would get at least £11 per hour from February.
Asda retail workers receive just £10:10 per hour – the lowest paid of the big 4 and one of the lowest-paying retailers overall.
GMB has been campaigning for Asda to increase pay to £11:50 per hour, but so far the supermarket has refused to listen.
The union has also called on Asda bosses to provide free food to colleagues while they are on shift during this unprecedented cost of living crisis, something Asda has so far refused to do.
Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, comments on ASDA:
“Sainsbury’s and Argos hourly retail colleague pay will increase from £10.25 to £11.00 per hour and from £11.30 to £11.95 per hour in London.
“Sainsbury’s has also decided to extend free food during shifts for store and depot colleagues by a further six months.
“If it’s good enough for Sainsbury’s workers why is it not good enough for Asda workers?
“Asda is an outlier in the retail industry, because it refuses to negotiate with its union on wages – unlike other retailers.
“That’s why they keep getting it wrong on pay – because they aren’t listening to its workers and instead agree the pay rates in an echo chamber.
“Surely Asda bosses don’t think Sainsbury’s workers are somehow worth more? GMB urges them to follow suit – upping pay and providing free food while on shift.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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