HALF OF ASDA WORKERS WILL STRUGGLE TO AFFORD CHRISTMAS DINNER – GMB DEMANDS PAY RISE

Without an urgent pay rise, Christmas will be cancelled for thousands of Asda workers, says GMB Union

Half of Asda workers are worried they won’t be able to afford Christmas dinner this year due to low wages, a GMB survey shows.

A poll of more than 3,200 Asda workers also reveals:

• Three quarters are worried they won’t be able to afford Christmas presents
• 87 per cent are worried they won’t be able to heat their homes
• A third are worried they won’t be able to afford to host family
• Just 4 per cent weren’t worried about being able to afford things for Christmas

Asda is now once again the lowest paid for the ‘big four’ supermarkets – including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Aldi

GMB wrote to Asda bosses asking them to increase the base rate of shop floor pay to £10.50 per hour immediately to help workers cope with the cost of living crisis and the fallout from the recent mini-budget.

Asda turned the request down.

Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said:

“Without an urgent pay rise, Christmas will be cancelled for thousands of Asda workers.

“The biggest squeeze on living standards in over a generation is an issue Asda bosses cannot ignore.

“We are now seeing mid-year pay increases being awarded by other retailers, leaving Asda playing catch up instead of leading the way on staff pay and benefits.

“GMB is now calling on Asda to act quickly and invest in its staff to stop them facing a truly bleak winter.”