Union fears job losses in Asda talks

Union leaders voiced fears about job losses and other cuts at supermarket giant Asda today after store managers and other officials were called to meetings with company bosses.

The GMB said the scope for further savings without hitting services or the safety of customers and staff was limited.

The union said that following pay freezes for workers including fork lift truck drivers, bakers and supervisors, Asda would now turn its attention to junior management to find savings.

GMB officer Giovanna Holt said managers had been joining the union in large numbers in recent weeks.

The meetings today were held at Penrith in Cumbria and Gloucester amid newspaper reports that hundreds of job cuts were being planned at Asda’s head office in Leeds.

A company spokesman said: “We always brief our own people first on matters relating to their business. That’s what we’re doing this week.

“Over the past six years we have created jobs at Asda for over 40,000 people across the UK. We are a net job creator and have every intention of continuing to be so.”