Approximately 1,000 Unite members employed by Morrisons are being balloted on whether they want to pursue strike action, with Unite stating that the new pension contribution requirements introduced by the retailer will leave its members £500 worse off per year.
By 2025, Morrisons workers will be required to pay a 5% pension contribution, up from 3%, while the retailer will reduce its own contribution to 3%, down from 5%.
Further changes that have led to the vote being triggered include the adoption of a new pick rate measure, the removal of a service award, alterations to jobs roles and a failure to correctly follow absence policies.
The ballot for Unite members opened on 18 April and will close on 9 May. Should the ballot be successful and if no concessions are made by the employer, industrial action will take place later in the spring and into summer.
Commenting on the potential of strike action, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is focussed on our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and these unmerited changes to workers’ pensions will leave our members worse off every month.
“Unite will not stand for such behaviour from any employer, let alone one like Morrisons who is raking in massive profits in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. Its flagrant profiteering and then cutting our members’ take-home pay is a disgrace.”
Unite national officer Adrian Jones added: “Our members provide a vital service ensuring supermarket shelves are full. Yet Morrisons have decided to unilaterally impose changes to their pensions that will leave them worse off and changes to the conditions that no one wants.
“Morrisons need to see sense and reverse these changes or they will see the anger of our members on the picket line.”
In other news, Unilever is recalling Magnums due to concerns that they may have been contaminated by metal and plastic.
