Member Article

GMB sign partnership agreement with Asda

Union GMB have signed a national partnership agreement with Asda, covering 20 distribution depots.

The agreement creates a framework for the way Asda Distribution and GMB will work together.

Signatories include Paul Kenny GMB General Secretary; Mike Gooddie, director of Industrial Relations at Asda; Ian Stansfield, director of Distribution at Asda and Mick Rix GMB National Officer.

It follows 14 months of negotiations and consolidates the constructive relationship that has developed between ASDA Distribution and GMB in recent years.

GMB members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposals in May, which offer Asda distribution workers greater job security as result of improved productivity and efficiency in depots, as well as an industry leading focus on Health and Safety.

Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary, said: “This agreement represents a huge step forward in the progressive relationship between GMB and ASDA.

“The growing confidence in the benefits collective bargaining can bring to productivity, staff retention, growth and positive and stable industrial relations is there for all to see following all the hard work of all the parties involved over the past few years.

“We have laid solid foundations and we must now work to build on this agreement which is a great success story for ASDA and GMB.”

Ian Stansfield, Director of Distribution at Asda, said: “This is a ground breaking agreement that brings our practices up to date and creates the framework for the way Asda Distribution and GMB will work together.

“It secures jobs, supports growth and ensures our operation is a efficient as possible at a time when our customers are relying on us more than ever to save them money everyday.

“More importantly, this agreement is based on solid foundations built in recent years and I look forward to a strong and productive relationship with the GMB.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .