Morrisons axes 3,000 managers in revamp
MORRISONS plans to axe 3,000 management jobs in a major overhaul of its store operations that will see thousands of staff recruited for shopfloor roles.
The UK’s fourth biggest supermarket, which employs 97,000 people, is creating 7,000 new hourly paid roles for its 492 stores.
This will mean a net 4,000 extra staff taken mainly to fill positions across its Market Street counters where skilled butchers, bakers, fishmongers and other fresh food specialists serve customers.
All stores will retain an overall manager but departmental roles such as beers, wines and spirits managers will be cut. Affected managers will be able to move to the new jobs.
David Lepley, Morrisons group retail director, said: “This proposal means more frontline colleagues improving product availability and helping customers.
“While there will be a short period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals we will be supporting them through this process and there are jobs available for everybody who wants to continue to work at Morrisons. There will also be more roles with greater flexibility that are very attractive to colleagues with families.”
The UK’s big four grocers are chasing efficiency and cost savings to compete with Germanowned discounters Aldi and Lidl, which are gaining market share through expansion.
Earlier this week, Sainsbury’s announced it is cutting hundreds of management jobs.
Morrisons lagged its main rivals over the festive period in what was the worst Christmas for food retailers in four years.
Joanne McGuinness, national officer at shopworkers’ union Usdaw, said: “This is a big upheaval for the Morrisons store management team and is devastating news for our members.
“Despite a large number of hourly paid roles being created, they will clearly not be a likefor-like position for the managers impacted.”