The GMB is to ballot its members employed in Asda distribution depots for an official national strike. The move followed the company’s failure at talks at Dartford last week to remove a threat to terminate the collective bargaining agreement at the depot. Asda management said it would end the existing collective agreement by 28 February if the union did not agree to water down its bargaining arrangements. Jude Brimble, GMB national officer responsible for Asda, said: “Asda pushed GMB members too far by issuing the unilateral threat to end the current agreement at Dartford. I am now going to ballot our members in the all the depots for official industrial action on a range of issues.” He called on the company to reverse its stance and to negotiate with its 140,000 employees in the UK by introducing proper collective bargaining for all Asda depots and stores. Asda had previously insisted it was confident of avoiding strike action.
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