Union fury at Asda ‘fortune’
Jump in profits sparks anger at contract changes
ASDA was accused of “making a fortune on the backs of its loyal workforce” after it posted a 13 per cent jump in profits.
Newly published accounts showed the supermarket giant made almost £805million last year. Nine bosses got nearly £12million between them in pay and share-based rewards. Its chief executive is Roger Burnley.
The accounts were published on the day fresh protests were staged at Asda stores across the UK over a controversial new employment contract for workers.
It will see Asda workers’ hourly rate rise to £9 but they will lose their paid breaks. Staff who don’t sign by November 2 risk being sacked.
Accounts for Asda Group Ltd at Companies House revealed revenues rose 3.1 per cent to just under £23billion last year, with profits up from £712.6million in 2017.
They also showed that Asda’s workforce fell by almost 5800 to 150,176 last year.
Gary Carter, national officer at the GMB union, said: “Asda is making a fortune on the backs of its loyal workforce. But instead of rewarding them, bosses are forcing them to choose between signing a brutal contract or getting the sack in time for Christmas. Asda can more than afford to offer dedicated, longserving staff a better deal.”
Asda, owned by US giant Walmart, said directors’ pay was linked to the firm’s performance and that staff shared a bonus. On the contract change, it said: “This contract is about increasing the take-home pay of more than 100,000 retail colleagues through an investment of more than £80million, and ensuring that everyone doing the same job is on the same terms and conditions. The overwhelming majority of our colleagues from across all our stores have signed on to the new contracts.”