ASDA workers set for five day strike

Last updated at 16:04 22 June 2006


Thousands of workers at supermarket giant Asda are to stage a five-day strike in a bitter dispute over pay and bargaining, it has been announced.

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Members of the GMB union at 20 distribution depots will walk out from June 30, threatening disruption to supplies of goods to Asda stores.

The strike will be followed by a "comprehensive programme" of industrial action.

The strike dates were agreed today by GMB shop stewards following a 3-1 vote in favour of stoppages by union members.

Drivers and warehouse workers will join the walk-out at depots across the country including Bedford, Chepstow, Dartford, Didcot, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Wigan, Lutterworth in Leicestershire, Bristol, Skelmersdale and Wakefield.

The union said it was aware that Asda, which is owned by American firm Wal-Mart, was gearing up to try to break the strike.

National officer Phil Davies said: "This decision to set a comprehensive programme of industrial action shows that GMB members are determined to win national collective bargaining rights which are common across British industry.

"There appears to be a clear clash of cultures between the way workers do business in Britain and the way Wal-Mart does business.

"It is significant that the strike dates set by the shop stewards cover Independence Day because GMB members want independence from the anti-trade union tactics of Wal-Mart worldwide.

"GMB members spoke decisively in the ballot and the shop stewards' decision shows that they are prepared to follow it up with decisive action."

The GMB warned employment agencies it will take legal action against them if they supply temporary staff to Asda to cover for striking workers.

Mr Davies said: "We will step up the campaign against the agencies we know are collaborating with Asda Wal-Mart to break this strike and we will use the full force of the law against them."

The GMB said it wanted national bargaining structures set up at distribution depots to agree pay and conditions.

Once established, workers then wanted an agreement to be paid a bonus of £300 each that the union said they were owed from last year.

The union said it also wanted to tackle the "unilateral" introduction of new technology which it said had led to higher work rates.

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