Lowestoft Asda workers announce strike dates

Asda workers in Lowestoft have announced when they'll be going on strike.

Members of the GMB union at the store voted overwhelmingly in favour of the action last month, with the union saying 87% of those who voted, voted to take industrial action.

Almost 200 workers are set to down tools for 48 hours from 00:01 on Friday 10 May until 23.59 on Saturday 11 May.

When they walk out, the Lowestoft branch will become just the third Asda to face a strike, after workers in Gosport and Wisbech walked out earlier this year.

Workers at Brighton Holingbury have also voted to strike.

Keith Dixon, GMB Regional Organiser, said: “GMB members used to be proud to work for Asda, but this once great supermarket is being driven into the ground.

"Standards across stores are falling – there are thousands of health and safety breaches, including blocked fire exits, fire routes, and fire extinguishers, along with faulty fire alarm systems.

"Meanwhile an estimated eight million worker hours have been cut across Asda stores, so things are only going to get worse.

"Asda workers have had enough and are flexing their industrial muscle to make bosses do something about it.”

What does Asda say?

An Asda spokesperson told us: “While we are disappointed that the GMB has taken this course of action, we can reassure customers that we have processes in place to minimize any disruption as a result of industrial action by the GMB at our Lowestoft store.

"We have taken practical steps in Lowestoft to address the points raised by the GMB and will continue to engage with their representatives with the aim of reaching an amicable solution for all parties.”

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Hits Radio app.