Union members have been taking industrial action at branches of British supermarkets. Asda is in a dispute over unresolved issues with management. GMB union members representing workers at the Gosport store in Hampshire. Initiated a major 48-hour strike earlier this month due to massive dissatisfaction over wage disputes. Employers paid wages that were less than promised. They reported a “toxic” workplace culture and unsafe working practices. Employees also noted that they felt pressured to take on extra shifts demanded of them. Workers continue to say they are feeling more stressed and unsupported as demands rise. But staffing levels stay at the same numbers. The union has collected more than 20 separate complaints from employees. Revealing blocked fire exists, poor training, and understaffed shifts. Which they say are endangering staff by increasing stress for the workers on site.
Worker satisfaction
The workforce has not been satisfied with Asda’s responses to the union complaints, despite repeated mediation efforts. The GMB said Asda asked a third-party investigator to review the concerns – its members turned down the offer. A fair number of employees still felt that decision-makers did not give their concerns enough weight in the decision-making process. Found that it offered few concrete ways actually to make improvements on a day-to-day basis. But union representatives said Asda management was ignoring staff. Concerns in their bid to reduce labor costs, forcing workers into jobs that compromised morale and safety.
Asda response
Asda said that it involves only a low percentage of its staff in strikes, and it expects “little or no disruption to service.” The company stated that it has established channels to express concerns and that no complaints were raised before the union’s action. Asda has recently tested arrangements such as a four-day week for its managers, however the GMB says these changes do not stretch to mass of workforce who are finding themselves constantly under pressure.
The new round of strikes falls in line with a wider trend from the retail industry where labor conditions and workers’ rights have turned into touchstones. The GMB Union also continues to highlight the abuse of workers, long work hours, and lack of safety measures within the industry. The union and Asda have not yet resolved the dispute, so they may be on their way to future strikes unless they can now agree.
Both developments suggest that Asda may be facing a crucial juncture with long-term ramifications for employee relations and customer service if the labor dispute there continues.
