TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ASDA WORKERS TO BE BALLOTED IN PAY DISPUTE

Retail staff are struggling while Asda’s owners are buying private jets, says GMB Union

GMB Union begins a ballot of tens of thousands of Asda workers today [4 November] in a dispute over pay.

Asda is once again the worst paying of the ‘big four’ supermarkets after the other retailers recently gave staff increased pay rises to help with the cost of living crisis. [1]

But despite repeated calls from GMB, Asda bosses refuse to increase retail workers basic pay of £10.10 per hour in line with the other ‘big four’

GMB is asking whether members are happy to accept what is essentially a zero per cent pay offer. The ballot closes on 4th December.

Struggling Asda workers are incensed the Issa Brothers – owners of the EG group which acquired Asda in a highly leveraged buyout in 2021 – reportedly borrowed tens of millions of euros interest-free from their company to buy two private jets. [2]

Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said:

“Asda’s retail workers are now seeing their hourly rate of pay slip to the bottom of the pile – again.

“Meanwhile the Issa brothers are loaning themselves tens of millions to buy private jets.

“Other companies see the need to protect staff from the cost-of-living crisis by offering increased pay rises and staff discounts.

“It’s time Asda bosses took a leaf out of their book and invested in staff, instead of further debt leveraging Asda to expand their empire.”