Strike action threat as firm set to cut sick pay
WORKERS could launch strike action as a major UK retailer plans to cut their sick pay benefits.
Wilko is planning to reduce sick pay for its staff in stores across the UK – including in Burton Place Shopping Centre, Burton; High Street, Uttoxeter; and New Broadway, Coalville.
Currently, they are entitled to be off sick on company sick pay on three occasions a year before reverting to statutory sick pay of £95.85. But the firm wants to reduce that to just one occasion from February 1.
It says the move would bring it in line with other retailers as it bids to tackle non-covid absences.
It says it will continue to support team members most in need, including anyone quarantining or absent with coronavirus.
But the GMB union has informed Wilko that if these measures go ahead, it faces a ballot for industrial action. The union said many of the affected workers were on minimum wage and low hours.
Some, it says, have no entitlement to statutory sick pay, which will leave them with no income if they become ill more than once a year
Roger Jenkins, GMB national officer, said: “Loyal Wilko workers have grafted throughout this pandemic, putting themselves and their families at risk to keep stores open. Along with other retail workers, they’ve had to deal with a lack of social distancing, increased threats and abuse from customers.
“Wilko should be rewarding their commitment but instead they’ve threatened to slash their sickness benefit. Wilko should hang their heads in shame.
“GMB will not tolerate this abuse of key workers and has informed Wilko that if these draconian measures go ahead, they face a ballot for industrial action.”
A Wilko spokesman said: “We’re a family business that’s looked after our team for over 90 years through good times and bad.
“We operate an enhanced company sick pay policy and we’ll continue to support those team members most in need, including anyone quarantining or absent with a case of coronavirus, anyone with long-term sickness and the extremely vulnerable. This will be over and above statutory sick pay.
“Early last year we considered some necessary changes to our policy designed to bring us more into line with other retailers. We soon put these on hold to support our team members whilst we concentrated on keeping our stores open as an essential retailer to provide our customers with access to the household and hardware items they need for their families.
“We’ve been working in collaboration with the GMB to try and tackle non-coronavirus absence.
“At the heart of these conversations was our shared strong desire to protect both Wilko team members and the future of Wilko so we can continue to serve customers, run a successful business, employ people, look after team members who need our help and offer an attractive benefits package compared to other retailers.”