M&S worker ‘blackmailed into signing new contract’
A MARKS and Spencer worker claims the firm has ‘blackmailed and threatened’ her into accepting a new contract.
The allegations came to light when Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes told a Parliamentary debate on the National Living Wage that one of her constituents, who she named only as Lynn, had been forced into an agreement by the high street giant.
Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh tabled a motion calling on the government to close loopholes which allow employers to drive down conditions and takehome pay to offset the cost of paying a living wage.
And speaking during the debate Ms McInnes, whose constituency includes Norden, Bamford and Castleton, raised the plight of Lynn.
She said: “This week, I received a letter from a constituent, Lynn, who works for M&S and has done so for 34 years.
“These are her words: ‘I feel I have been blackmailed and threatened to sign the form to accept the small pay-out because I was told I would not receive this; also they would change my contract and that would mean I would have to start working Sundays and work all bank holidays.
‘No matter what they say the loyal long service worker has been sold down the river and threatened.’”
Ms McInnes, continued: “It is disappointing to hear reports like this from employees of stalwarts of our high streets, which really should be striving to be seen as exemplar employers.”
But M&S says each one of its employees will either be better paid or have the opportunity to maintain their current pay level under the scheme.
A spokesperson said: “We completed a thorough consultation process, listened to our colleagues and acted on their feedback. From April 2017 our people will be amongst the highest paid in UK retail and receive one of the best benefits packages.
“The changes will reward our people in a fair and consistent way, simplify and modernise our business and help us attract and retain the best talent.”
But Mike Aylward of retail workers union Usdaw, of which Lynn is a member, said that more than 11,000 M&S employees would be worse off next year. He also accused M&S of negotiating with an employees forum lacking in independence or expertise, rather than a trade union, in order to bring the changes in.