Asda, the UK supermarket chain owned by US giant Wal-Mart, has said that it will take legal action in an attempt to block the five-day strike at Asda depots called by the GMB at the end of last week.
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The strike, which the GMB said was voted for by a majority of three-to-one, is due to commence on 30 June. The industrial action, the union says, is designed to increase pressure on Asda to recognise the collective bargaining rights of warehouse staff and drivers at all 20 of its depots.
David Smith, people director at Asda, said the supermarket took the decision because of the GMB’s handling of the ballot process.
“We’re sad we feel we have to do this, but there were serious flaws in the ballot process with people who don’t even work for Asda being sent ballot papers. We’ve tried raising this with the union but they’ve ignored us – instead they’ve gone ahead and called a strike regardless. With only 1% of our colleagues voting for a strike, we’ve got to do all we can to protect the other 99%. The GMB’s left us with no choice but to take legal action to try and put a stop to this,” Smith said.
The GMB was not immediately available for comment.
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