As we go to press, the unions have confirmed that the planned strike
action at Asda has been called off, as a result of negotiations. This
report was carried in the socialist before the action was called off.
HUNDREDS OF GMB members in Asda Wal-Mart’s 20 depots are due to go on
strike for five days between 30 June and 4 July. The workers voted by 3
to 1 to strike over the bosses’ attempt to break their union
organisation. Asda bosses are refusing to restore the collective
bargaining rights they unilaterally withdrew in the 1990s.
Bill Mullins
There has been a long history to Asda’s anti-union attitude, which
has worsened since they were taken over by Wal-Mart. Asda have already
broken the employment laws by attempting to bribe workers to leave the
union by offering a bigger pay increase than union members. This was
recommended by PR consultants Portland which is run by Tim Allen, Tony
Blair’s former press secretary.
In the run-up to the strike Asda were preparing to use agency labour
as scabs. This must not be allowed to happen. The GMB has said that it
will take legal action against any agency that sends in scabs but this
will not be enough if this strike is to be won.
The Asda workers have been extremely patient and followed the advice
of the GMB as they tried to win their justified demands, now it is up to
the rest of the labour and trade union movement and get behind these
workers.
