WARRINGTON South MP Faisal Rashid has stepped into the ongoing row between Asda and its staff over enforced contract changes.
He says staff, including those at the Asda stores at Westbrook and the Cockhedge Centre, fear for their jobs and future as a result of the changes.
Mr Rashid (pictured) has written to Asda chief executive Roger Burnley, urging him to “do right” by his staff and reconsider the forced changes.
He originally wrote to Asda in August, raising concerns about reports that staff in Warrington were being forces to sign new contracts or risk losing their jobs.
They felt pressured to sign the new contract by their managers, leaving them little choice because if they did not sign they would be forced to leave without any redundancy package.
Since them, the GMB union have reported that Asda have issued all staff who haven’t signed up to the changes with a leaflet telling them how to apply for jobs elsewhere.
This directly contradicts Asda’s statement in response to Mr Rashid’s initial letter, which claimed that: “The overwhelming majority of our colleagues have signed onto the new contracts and while we appreciate that some of our colleagues find the changes more unsettling, we do not want any of them to leave.”
These contract changes have seen thousands of staff across the country lose out on flexibility and holidays.
The MP said: “Many thousands of Asda workers simply won’t be flexible in the way that Asda bosses demand – imposing a new contract won’t change workers’ childcare, caring, studying, family and other outside work commitments.
“I am angered by reports that Asda continue to force these unfair contract changes on employees.
“I fail to see how this is an appropriate way to treat loyal, hard-working staff in my constituency – particularly at a time when Asda are recording £850 million in annual profits.
“People who have provided years of service to the company are set to lose many benefits. Employees should not feel bullied into signing this contract with the threat of losing their jobs. Once again, I am calling on Asda to do right by these employees and urgently reconsider these forced contract changes.”
