It is time the board stopped thinking about just the money and considered their long serving colleagues’ job security and offering real choice to customers.
Asda bakery redundancies a concern the GMB union, a decision make so quickly after consultation.
For the past weeks we have been in consultation with ASDA over the proposals to end scratch baking, replace with part baked products and make our skilled bakers redundant.
Thank you for all our members who have told us their views which have been passed on through the consultation to ASDA.
Decision is wrong, huge mistake to lose skilled workers
The GMB union have stated that ASDA’s position is wrong both industrially and commercially. It is a huge mistake to lose skilled workers from across stores, skills that once lost can never be replaced and not in the interest of customers, removing choice and the ability to purchase truly fresh baked products. A choice that ASDA should be proud of not ending.
The decision of the ASDA board is to go ahead with these redundancies. It is concerning that the board made this decision so quickly after the end of consultation, an indication that ASDA were never willing to consider retaining the skilled workers in the bakeries.
Thank you £300 payment refused
Many bakers are leaving before their notice period ends. GMB trade union requested a thank you payment of £300 to all bakers that stay to the end of their notice period. That request was refused.
We asked for pay protection for those bakers staying with the business as a first option, for red Circling as a second option, ASDA decided on a transitional payment, simply putting off the date when bakers pay would be reduced. We have managed to get this payment extended to 12 months, but this still falls short of what our bakers deserve.
Not enough for long serving Asda collegues
Through the consultation a number of improvements and safeguards have been achieved but this doesn’t go far enough. It is a slap across the face for long serving skilled colleagues and does nothing for the future success of ASDA.
It is time the board stopped thinking about just the money and considered their long serving colleagues’ job security and offering real choice to customers.
