Bournemouth, Business | Posted on June 13th, 2024 | return to news
Angry Bournemouth Asda workers protest treatment of staff by owners
Asda workers held a demonstration outside the supermarket to protest falling standards and cuts to hours by the chain’s private equity owners.
Angry Asda workers gathered outside the Bournemouth branch of the supermarket chain to protest falling standards and cuts to working hours.
The trade union GMB claims that 500 people took part in the demonstration on Wednesday 12 June against Asda’s majority owners, the private equity firm TDR Capital.
According to GMB, approximately 16,500 hours have been cut during the past two years from the Bournemouth Asda alone — equal to nearly five per cent of the hours in the store — and this is causing health and safety issues, dirty stores and declining standards. The trade union also claims TDR Capital has made these cuts to address the supermarket’s debts.
TDR Capital, alongside the billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, took majority ownership of the supermarket chain in June 2021. The latest figures show Asda has a net debt of £3.8bn.
Shop floor employees who protested on Wednesday carried a banner demanding a new deal for workers and posters claiming that Asda workers are paying the price for these debts. Demonstrators also carried a life-size cutout of Manjit Dale, a co-founder of TDR who sat on Asda’s board of directors until late last year.
Nadine Houghton, GMB’s national officer, said: “Hundreds of people gathered at Asda Bournemouth to show their anger at the daylight robbery of a much-loved British institution.
“Asda workers are forced to do more work with less hours, while store standards slip. It’s completely unacceptable and something has got to give.”
An Asda spokesperson said: “Since acquiring Asda three years ago, the shareholders have invested £3.8bn to grow the business organically and via strategic acquisitions. This investment includes launching Asda Express, a nationwide chain of convenience stores, and Asda Rewards, a successful loyalty programme now used by six million customers.
“Manjit Dale resigned from his position as TDR’s representative on Asda’s company board in December 2023.”
TDR Capital declined to comment.
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
