The union representing 1,600 workers who have lost their jobs with supermarket chain Morrisons says the cuts are a “direct consequence” of the company’s takeover of Safeway.
Morrisons announced the redundancies on Monday night when it confirmed the closure of two depots.
The company said it was shutting the sites at Aylesford in Kent and Bristol because it was left with too many distribution centres following its £3bn takeover of Safeway in March 2004.
The GMB union’s acting general secretary, Paul Kenny, said: “These redundancies are a direct consequence of the takeover of Safeway by Morrisons.
“We had to drag the management kicking and screaming to face up to and deal with the consequences of the takeover.”
Morrisons said it hoped to “minimise redundancies” and offer staff alternative roles within the company.
