Asda considering up to 2,500 job cuts
Supermarket giant Asda is to start consulting with staff over potential job losses next year which could affect up to 2,500 people.
The plan takes in a series of proposals, says Asda, and it is likely that some of its stores in the West Midlands could be included.
As well as its superstores in Wolverhampton, Merry Hill, Stafford, Cannock and Walsall the company has supermarkets in Heath Town, Coseley, Sedgley, Bloxwich, Darlaston, Great Bridge, Tipton and Brierley Hill employing hundreds of local people..
Areas of work affected by any changes include petrol, bakery, back office and so-called hosting.
Jobs in the George areas of Asda stores could also be affected, it is understood.
The company declined to comment on any potential job cuts.
An Asda spokesperson said: "“In a competitive retail market, where customers rightly expect great value and ease of service, we must always look at how we can work more quickly and efficiently for them – and inevitably, that means we need to consider changing the roles we need our colleagues to do or the hours needed in particular parts of our stores.
“We believe the proposed changes we are consulting on would allow us to do a better job for our customers.
"We also recognise that discussions about potential change aren’t easy. If the decision is taken to implement the proposed changes we would work with our colleagues to look at the potential impact of these proposals on them.”
Asda is planning to merge with Sainsbury's although the deal is to be subjected to investigation after the Competition and Markets Authority said it raised sufficient concerns to be referred for an in-depth review. Asda says the current job proposals are not connected to the merger deal.
It is understood that consultations with individuals will not start until the new year and any redundancies will take place in February at the earliest.
The plans include changes to workers' hours, it is understood.
The proposals are believed to include combining back office functions such as administration, removing some George desks, changing the format of some petrol stations from kiosk or shop to automated, and reducing the hours of bakery staff and those employed as "front-end hosts".
Gary Carter, national officer of the GMB union, said: "These proposed redundancies are a hammer blow to Asda workers. The timing of this announcement, in the run-up to Christmas, is doubly appalling.
"Asda is performing well and is highly profitable because of the hard work of our members, who are the backbone of the company. GMB will fight tooth and nail for every single job.
"These cuts make no sense whatsoever. Slashing our members' jobs would hurt the service Asda customers receive.
"With all the speculation surrounding the proposed Sainsbury's merger and potential sell-off of stores, this news will not put anyone's mind at rest."
In July, the supermarket said it was entering into consultation with staff at its Enfield home shopping centre in London, putting 261 jobs at risk
