Workplace Report May 2006

Recruitment and organisation news

Asda fails to deliver on recognition

The GMB general union is pressing ahead with a national strike ballot at supermarket chain Asda Wal-Mart, over union recognition at the company’s 20 distribution depots.

The GMB had suspended strike plans after reaching a recognition deal with the company on 11 April. It withdrew the ballot pending the drawing up of official written agreements on recognition, bargaining rights and access in the distribution depots – as well as union access in Asda’s 302 UK stores.

However, two further meetings between the union and ASDA “confirmed that the company was no longer prepared to deliver this deal,” according to the union.