More than 4,000 Asda workers face pay cuts as the grocer cuts jobs at its in-store post offices
More than 4,000 Asda workers are facing pay cuts while hundreds more have seen their jobs threatened as part of a major shake-up.
The grocer is laying off the staff of its 23 in-store postal agencies by a fifth and reducing opening hours at four sites.
It is also closing seven of its 254 pharmacies, which will result in the elimination of 14 pharmacist positions.
Cuts: Asda is cutting staff from its 23 in-store post offices by a fifth and reducing opening hours at four locations. It is also closing seven of its 254 pharmacies
And it is moving 4,137 hourly workers from its night shifts – for which they are paid a premium – to less lucrative day shifts. As part of the change, 211 night shift manager positions will also be cut.
The four post offices affected are in Livingston, Edinburgh, Plymouth and Tweedmouth. The closed pharmacies are in Southampton, Seaham, Feltham, Blackburn, Adel, West Bradford and Weston-super-Mare. The grocer said the redesign was aimed at “improving the customer experience”.
Retail Director Ken Towle said: “Retail is changing at pace and it is essential that we examine changing customer preferences, as well as our own ways of working, to ensure that we operate. as efficiently as possible, so that we can continue to invest and grow our Business.
“We are entering a period of consultation with our colleagues on these proposals.”
The changes mean that frozen goods, canned goods and dry pasta aisles will not be restocked at night in 184 small stores, with workers instead doing so during the day. Rivals Lidl and Aldi already have staff restocking shelves during the day.
And last year Tesco unveiled plans to cut overnight stocking in more than 100 stores, risking up to 1,600 jobs.
Asda said the changes would help it “drive sustainable growth” at a time when supermarkets are under pressure from soaring costs and falling household incomes.
