Grocery store chain Asda is contemplating whether or not to chop the pay of seven,000 workers within the south east of England to carry it in step with its different shops.
Employees at 39 shops outdoors the M25 have been paid extra for many years to offset a better price of dwelling nearer to London.
A spokesperson mentioned all Asda workers had lately been given a ten% pay rise to assist with hovering inflation.
The GMB union mentioned Asda was set to fireplace employees who refused to comply with the brand new situations.
The union mentioned the employees have been already low-paid, and that planning to cut back pay throughout a cost-of-living disaster was “inexcusable”.
The employees get a so-called “location complement” of 60p per hour, which Asda might scrap, and an evening complement that it needs to cut back, the GMB mentioned.
It added that those that don’t comply with the pay discount “may very well be dismissed in the event that they refuse to signal” the brand new contract.
The session is occurring in the mean time, and Asda plans to usher in the adjustments in November, the union mentioned.
It accused Asda-owners the Issa brothers of laying the bottom for a “debt laden merger” between Asda and EG Group’s UK petrol stations – which the brothers additionally personal.
“These slash and burn techniques, together with meals and gasoline worth will increase, will solely ramp up if the merger goes forward,” mentioned GMB organiser Nadine Houghton.
Nonetheless, an Asda spokesperson mentioned the collective session was “in a small variety of shops” the place employees have been paid 60p per hour on prime of the £11.00 per hour nationwide price.
“This complement is out of line with the broader retail market and has created an anomaly the place some Asda colleagues in shops which are shut collectively are paid completely different charges,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Asda is discussing a “compensatory cost” in return for eradicating the complement.
“These discussions are ongoing and no remaining determination has been taken,” the spokesperson added.
Asda has about 140,000 workers in whole.