Contracts impasse threatens staff jobs

DOZENS of Asda workers in Dundee could be in line to lose their jobs at the weekend – i f they don’t sign up to new terms and conditions.

Jenny Marra, Labour Party MSP for North East Scotland, has stepped into the row between workers and the supermarket giant.

She met with the regional people manager of the Myrekirk store, Gordon Goodsir, in a bid to save the jobs of local workers.

Ms Marra has now written a letter to Mr Goodsir demanding he withdraw the threat to terminate the contracts of 40 workers.

In her letter Ms Marra said: “I am writing to ask you to withdraw the threat of sacking before this weekend. It would be an abomination if a modern company in 2019 sacked 40 workers in Dundee for refusing to sign their terms and conditions.”

The row broke out after 400 workers across three stores in the city were asked to sign a new contract. Of that 400, who were all under threat of losing their jobs, 360 signed up, while the remaining 40 have refused to do so.

Ms Marra’s letter continued: “You confirmed that those 40 will lose their jobs this weekend at midnight on Saturday November 2, if they do not sign your new contract that sees many of them lose money and all of them denigrate their terms and conditions at work.”

In April, workers were told they could be forced to take on a contract without bank holidays – or lose their jobs. Staff at the Milton of Craigie, Dundee West and Kirkton stores were told they may have to accept “contract six” or face being given 12 weeks’ notice if they did not agree.

At the time Asda said the proposed move would bring all employees on to the same contract. Currently there are six contracts in operation, all with different terms and conditions.

Asda has claimed there are discrepancies in the figures provided by Ms Marra.

Jenny Marra