The T&G section of Unite has called on the government to block the takeover of Sainsbury’s by the investment arm of the Qatari state.
The supermarket chain has received interest from equity firm Delta Two, which already owns a 24% stake in the firm. Sainsbury’s earlier this year rejected a bid from private equity firm CVC.
Brian Revell, national organiser for food and agriculture at T&G, called Sainsbury’s a national icon and said it was crucial in employment terms, providing stable employment for more than 150,000 people.
He said: “How on earth can it be in Britain’s interest to allow Sainsbury’s to become the nationalised property of a Gulf state?”
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“It is also probable that the new owners will seek to split the property from the retail business. This will lead to higher prices and a less competitive Sainsbury’s,” he added.
The T&G section of Unite has more than 20,000 members in the stores and distribution of Sainsbury’s.
