The GMB Union, which balloted 8,000 members at Asda, has claimed that the retailer has offered a below-inflation pay offer which will see workers’ real terms pay slashed because of the rising cost of living.
They have rejected pay rises of between 5% and 7.5%, when the retail prices index measure of inflation in January was 7.8% and the consumer prices index measure was 5.5%. The pay offer varies depending on location and grade.
The union said that almost 70% of the staff polled have turned down the pay offer, and nearly 80% said they were ready to take industrial action, which could involve a strike affecting supermarket deliveries.
