ASDA workers strike outside Clapham store over cuts to hours

Dozens of ASDA workers have taken to the street outside an ASDA store, accusing the company of “slashing millions of hours” from the shop floor.

The workers, who are members of the GMB union, gathered outside the Clapham Superstore, in Lavender Hill, joined by the new MP for Battersea, Marsha de Cordova.

GMB said about seven per cent of hours have been cut at the Clapham store in the past two years, resulting in health and safety issues, “dirty stores and declining standards”.

The union says the cuts have come as a result of ASDA’s private equity owners, TDR Capital, attempting to service its debts.

Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer said: “This is daylight robbery of a much-loved British institution with Asda workers and customers paying the price.”

An ASDA spokesman said the company is investing £30million during the remainder of the year to improve the in-store experience, including putting extra hours into the store. 

The union also said that ASDA’s shop floor workers – who are predominantly women – are owed billions of pounds in back pay through their equal pay claim.

The claim has been raging since 2014, with GMB supporting members who argue that they should be paid equally with workers in distribution.

Union officials estimate the underpayment for the company’s Clapham workers could be as much as £1.8million.

In response, ASDA said retail and distribution were “very different sectors”.

A spokesman said: “At ASDA, male and female colleagues doing the same jobs in stores are paid the same and this is equally true in our distribution centres. 

“We continue to defend these claims because retail and distribution are very different sectors, with their own distinct skill sets and rates of pay.”

Pictured top: ASDA workers and GMB members outside the Clapham store today (Picture: GMB)