Fighting the union-busters at Asda/Wal-Mart

Asda/Wal-Mart: Fighting the union-busters

PROBLEMS FACED by GMB members in Asda/Wal-Mart distribution depots in
the north-west seem to be coming to a head at the Ince, Wigan depot. The
depot is one of only three in the country distributing the George
clothing range.

Andy Ford, Warrington

The company want to move to a new technology, Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) in which a computer-controlled voice directs
warehouse workers via a headset to the goods to be picked and loaded for
delivery.

The GMB were in talks with Asda about possible safety aspects of
exposure to magnetic fields, the dehumanising effects of being
controlled by a computer, and most crucially, the company’s insistence
that the goods picked per shift should rise from 1,100 cases to 1,400 –
with no extra pay. But they did offer a crate of beer for those workers
who agreed to go over to the RFID system! George clothing has a turnover
of around £2 billion.

RFID

However the company moved to implement RFID ahead of proper
consultation with the GMB. Workers were unhappy about it and held an
impromptu meeting in the canteen whereupon management grilled Gary
Belshaw, senior rep at Ince, for three hours before suspending him on
pay, pending investigation for organising a stoppage.

Eddie Gaudie, GMB organiser, explained the problem with the new
productivity targets.

"Asda say they have done time and motion on the RFID. They
reckon 1,400 cases is achievable, but we are sceptical."

Eddie explained the brutal selection of new staff.

"New employees are given a target of cases to pick per shift.
If they can’t pick the target then they don’t keep them on, they just
let them go. These targets are important. And if everyone moves to
1,400 cases, then they’re doing 10 hours’ work in an eight-hour shift
– five people end up doing the work of six".

I asked Eddie if the company consulted first before setting the
targets.

"No, it’s implement first, talk later", he said. But
although the GMB are constantly playing catch up with Asda, the union-organised
sites are far better to work in than the many unorganised depots around
Warrington.

"We have consultation rights over wages, terms and conditions.
We have got reasonable conditions, but it’s a constant battle".

As result the GMB has built a good membership at the Ince, Goose
Green (Wigan) and Skelmersdale warehouses which employ around 500 staff
each, with about 80-90% in the union.

Had industrial relations changed at all since Asda’s take over by
Wal-Mart?

"Oh yes. They do recognise us, but it’s not easy. For instance
they aggressively promote their own ‘Law Club’ offering free legal
advice – and they say it’s cheaper than the union; it’s only 34 pence
a week. But how can anyone expect Asda’s own law club to represent
them if they have a problem with the company?"

Asda/Wal-Mart also tries to undermine the union by opening up new
sites with workers on a ‘New World contract’ which work 363 days a year
and discourage union membership. On the ‘New World’ sites the company
try to undermine the union by stopping check-off of union dues.

At first there was going to be no check-off at all, even for workers
moved from other sites, but eventually the GMB got check-off for
existing members. The union has to fight every inch of the way.

The GMB is determined to get Gary Belshaw back to work. A ballot for
industrial action is going ahead. But Wal-Mart is a massive company with
assets of billions of dollars. They retain the best (or worst!)
employment law experts, and the company will be only too keen to exploit
the legal minefield of Britain’s employment laws.

The GMB convened a national meeting of reps from ASDA/Wal-Mart
distribution depots only to find that the company refused stewards time
off to attend. Now the reps have had their email facilities withdrawn.

The GMB held a protest outside the depot on Wednesday to coincide
with Gary Belshaw’s disciplinary hearing.

As well as balloting for industrial action, the union has issued
quite militant advice to the members: "ASDA George now has a
turnover in excess of £2 billion but you are being asked to put up with
low pay and industrial terrorism… If you vote against industrial
action ASDA will continue on its present course of intimidation and
bullying. You are the crucial cog in ASDA’s supply chain of Just in Time
computer ordering.

"You have the power to defend yourselves and fight for better
pay and treatment. There are only two other ASDA George Distribution
centres and both have pledged to support you and your shop
stewards…"

Workers at Asda’s Washington distribution centre are due to strike on
24 June, in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

There is a separate dispute where ASDA management has threatened the
possibility of over 300 redundancies at another Washington Depot.

A meeting of all GMB ASDA shop stewards called for 16 June, was
cancelled after the company refused to give stewards time off.