Angry Asda workers met Shadow Chancellor today after GMB revealed more
than 6 in 10 surveyed members had been paid incorrectly in their
last pay cheque.
Staff from Asda’s retail and distribution arms met the MP for
Leeds West at GMB’s annual Congress, which takes place in
Harrogate this week.
A GMB survey of thousands of Asda workers shows:
-
24% relying on bank credit
-
7.6% turning to high interest rate payday lenders
-
Nearly 1 in 5 (19.5%) said their credit rating had been
affected
-
62.5% said wage errors had negative impacts on their mental
health
-
7.7% reported impacts on benefits.
GMB has engaged in good faith discussions with Asda to help bring
a resolution to this issue but is concerned Asda will not go far
enough, quickly enough to protect its workers during the
cost-of-living crisis.
, Labour’s Shadow
Chancellor, said:
“Supermarket's workforces have done so much to keep Britain
running - not just during the pandemic, when they went above and
beyond - but each and every day.
“These key workers are vital to our everyday economy, and we must
make sure they're properly valued and get the recognition and
respect they deserve."
Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer,
said:
“GMB members work hard to keep Asda stores and depots running.
What they are asking for is remarkably simple and something that
every worker should have; to be paid correctly and on time for
the hours they have worked.
“These are recurring problems at Asda and Asda understands they
have a huge issue to resolve here.
“We are working with them to get this resolved for our members
and hope to see concrete actions soon.
“It cannot be right that workers are having universal credit
stopped or turning to pay day lenders because their employer
can’t pay them properly.
“A fair day’s pay for a fair day's work is all we are asking
for.”
