ASDA workers vote for strike
74.1% in favour of industrial action
GMB members working in Asda Wal-Mart’s 20 distribution depots across the
country have voted by 3 to 1 (74.1% in favour) to take strike action in
support of their outstanding claims with the company. They also voted by an
even bigger margin of more than 4 to 1 for industrial action short of a strike
to secure their objectives.
GMB’s Asda Wal-Mart Shop Stewards National Council and GMB local and national
officials will meet tomorrow (Thursday 22nd June 2006) in Manchester at Staff
House, Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3BB at 11 a.m. to consider the ballot
result and set dates and times for a programme of industrial action.
GMB members who were balloted work as HGV drivers and warehouse picker and loaders at Asda Wal-Mart 20 distribution depots including Bedford, Chepstow, Dartford, Didcot, Erith, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Ince George in Wigan, Lymedale Staffordshire, Lutterworth in Leicestershire, Portbury in Bristol, Skelmersdale, Teesport, ADC Wigan, Wakefield and Washington. They move 30,000 tonnes per day of ambient, fresh, chilled and frozen produce from 20 distribution depots to 300 Asda Wal-Mart Stores around the country.
GMB members in Asda Wal-Mart’s distribution depots want to see the
establishment of proper national bargaining structures between the company and
GMB covering pay, conditions and union facilities in all 20 distribution
depots.
Once established the first thing GMB members employed in the depots want is an
agreement, via the new national negotiating structures, that Asda Wal-Mart pay
the unpaid 2005 bonus of £300 per worker. The second issue GMB members in the
depots want dealt with via the new national negotiating structures is an end
to the unilateral introduction of new technology leading to higher work rates
in the depots which health and safety experts say will seriously injury GMB
members over a long period of time. GMB members want an agreement that
safe work rates are established by a panel of independent experts.
Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary responding to the ballot result said,
“GMB members in the 20 Asda Wal-Mart distribution depots have spoken. They
have voted by three to one to take strike action despite all of the company’s
attempts to dissuade or intimidate them to vote no. GMB members have been
subjected to unprecedented interference and propaganda by Asda Wal-Mart. This
ballot result shows that it is time for Asda Wal-Mart to wake up and smell the
coffee.
"GMB members tell us that the company is gearing up and may illegally
attempt to use agency labour to do our members jobs. This is what is behind
the company statement that in the event of industrial action the customers
will not notice a thing. Using agency labour during an official trade dispute
is illegal and GMB will not allow Asda Wal-Mart to run a coach and horses
through UK labour law. Any attempt by outside agencies to interfere or
undermine this lawful industrial action by GMB members will be responded to
with full vigour.
"GMB Shop Stewards and GMB officials will meet in Manchester tomorrow and
there will be a further announcement after that meeting."
June 2006
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