Asda has announced that it is going to appeal against an Employment Tribunal’s £850,000 fine, as the GMB moves to ballot in mid-April, for strike action.
An Asda spokesperson said: “We’re bemused as to why the GMB keep moving in this direction and feel our colleagues – some of whom are their members – would be better served by us spending our time working together rather than preparing for industrial action.”
“We’re disappointed with the tribunal’s decision and, having taken the time to fully consider the ruling, believe it’s wrong and that’s why we’ve decided to appeal.”
The Tribunal found that Asda illegally offered an inducement to 340 GMB members at its Washington depot, to give up a collective agreement and was ordered to pay £2500 to each member.
Micky Hopper, GMB organiser for the washington depot said: “Asda Wal-Mart cannot accept the judgement of an independent panel about their anti-union activities. The decision to appeal will spur GMB members in Washington and the other depots to vote ‘yes’ for strike action to secure proper national bargaining rights when the ballot papers land next month.”
