18/05/2015

Call For Supermarkets To Work With Unions To Secure Jobs

Britain's major supermarkets, which are suffering tough trading conditions, are being urged to work with the trade unions to secure the jobs, and terms and conditions of their respective workforces.

Unite the union has written to the bosses of nine supermarket giants in the UK and the Irish Republic for a personal meeting 'to explore more constructive avenues to secure jobs'.

Unite reps from the distribution and retail sectors are holding a summit in Salford to discuss the current situation and formulate plans for increasing the pressure on the retailers to enter into constructive talks.

Unite national officers for retail distribution, Adrian Jones and Matt Draper, and national officer for food, Julia Long, wrote: "Our members have become increasingly concerned over threats to their terms and conditions and job security.

"We have therefore taken the unusual step of writing to all of the major grocery retailers in the country to try to establish a common view on securing a future for all."

The supermarkets are: Asda, Co-operative Food, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Musgrave Retail Partners (Budgens), Sainsbury, Spar and Tesco, as well as BWG Foods in Ireland.

The supermarkets in a bid to cut overheads have reduced workforces – Morrison's employed 128,000 in 2012 and this was down to 119,000 two years later. Defined pension schemes and their benefits are also being severely pruned at Sainsbury's and Tesco.

(CD/JP)

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