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Asda HQ hit by protest
over contract changes
GMB staged the protest, culminating at Asda’s Leeds HQIan Quinn
Asda faced a mass dem-
onstration at its head-
quarters this week as
staff angry at its new
pay contract took to the
streets.
The GMB said 800 peo-
ple attended a protest in
Leeds, culminating at
Asda House, after claim-
ing 93% of its members
within Asda opposed the
new contract it is trying
to bring in, which has
resulted in allegations of
“bullying tactics” to staff.
In April, the supermar-
ket announced it was
raising minimum hourly
store wages but scrap-
ping paid breaks, in a
move it claimed would
benefit most staff but
leave around 3,000 of
the 60,000 staff affected
worse off.
Asda plans to move
hourly paid retail staff in
England, Scotland and
Wales to new contracts
that raise the lowest rate
from £8.21 to £9 but also
require “more flexibility”
over hours and depart-
ments, which has caused
outrage from staff.
“GMB feels the com-
pany’s contract wouldresult in a devastating
impact upon the work-
life balance, security
and income for our GMB
members within Asda,”
said Keith Dixon, GMB
regional organiser.
“Asda needs to under-
stand the value of their
dedicated workforce
who have for many years
grown Asda to be amultibillion-pound prof-
itable business.
“We have had reports
of managers using bul-
lying and threatening
behaviour by offering
false promises, going
uninvited to the homes
of members who are suf-
fering terminal illnesses
and even threatening to
withhold holidays and
sick pay if they do not
sign the new contract.
“It is time Asda realises
they have lost the respect
and support of their
workforce and agrees to
meet with GMB to negoti-
ate better terms on behalf
of the members.”
An Asda spokesman
defended the moves and
said the “overwhelming
majority” of colleagues
had signed up to the new
contract.CATAX is the largest
service provider of R&D
tax credit claims, and
is seeking a sales agent.
CATAX is currently
taking on over 300 new
cases per month.
The right candidate
will be given full
training, BDM in-field
support, pre-set client
meetings for the first
month and advance
commission payments.
The role would suit a
candidate with B2B sales
experience. Accounting
qualifications are not
required.
Interested? See p44.i want that job
my alternative cv
What was your first-ever
job? Aged 14 I worked
holding an advertising
board for a clothes shop.
Sounds easy, but try
doing it for eight hours on
a cold day in Scotland.
What’s been your worst
job interview? In an
interview for Uber I let
it slip that my biggest
weakness is that I’m
dreadfully disorganised.
Surprisingly, I didn’t get
offered the role.
What was the first music
single you bought? It was
an album by Eminem –
The Eminem Show.
How do you describe
your job to your
mates? Making Nature
Taste Naughty (that’strademarked!) by manu-
facturing and selling the
tastiest, most indulgent
snack bars on the market.
What’s the most reward-
ing part of your job?
Seeing our bars on store
shelves, nationwide.
What’s the least reward-
ing part? Machines
breaking down in
production!
What’s your motto in
life? Risk and reward.
What’s your nickname?
Ish.
If you were allowed one
dream perk what would
it be? A corporate box
at Anfield to watch the
mighty Liverpool FC.
What’s your favourite
movie? Get Out – I lovethe unpredictability of
the storyline.
What’s been the most
embarrassing moment
in your life? Last week-
end I walked into the
glass doors at the V&A
museum when I was
visiting my hometown,
Dundee. Very embar-
rassed, I tried to style it
out by casually walking
away as if I hadn’t just
almost broken my nose
even though I could hear
the laughter from behind.
Any phobias? Blood – I
was actually going to
study dentistry until I
almost fainted on my
work experience.
If you could pick a celeb-
rity to join your staff whowould it be? Mary Berry- so we can utilise her
baking skills for NPD and
she can also shamelessly
plug us on the Great
British Bake Off.
If you could change one
thing in the grocery
industry what would it
be? That a packet of blue-
berries costs more than a
multipack of Mars Bars.
What luxury would you
have on your desert
island? My electric tooth-
brush, I really can’t live
without it.
What animal best
reflects your person-
ality? A wolf – I really
trust my instincts when
it comes to decision mak-
ing, often too much.
Ishak Valimohamed
Founder, Vive, on Liverpool
FC, wolves and The Eminem
Show
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