UK trade union GMB is conducting ballots at two Asda superstores in Brighton due to staff dissatisfaction with management's response to a range of complaints.  

The issues at the Brighton Marina and Brighton Hollingbury Asda Stores include insufficient hours of work, substandard employment contracts and delayed responses to worker's health and safety concerns such as fire safety and waste disposal. 

The GMB union has compiled a dossier of more than 20 issues that have been presented to Asda management. 

Staff grievances also highlight inadequate training and the strain of high staff turnover on the remaining members of the workforce.  

The ballots, which are set to conclude in mid-February 2024, could lead to formal industrial action if members vote in favour. 

GMB regional organiser Nicola Nixon stated: “The members have come up with more than 20 issues that they feel are not being addressed properly by management, and these look incredibly similar to those submitted in Gosport. 

“Asda owners the Issa brothers and their financial backers TDR Capital need to step up to the plate and address these issues head on, or we will just see ballot after ballot across the country until our members feel listened to. 

“TDR Capital also owns the Stonegate pub chain and GMB has highlighted similar issues with the private equity firm. 

“Both TDR Capital and Asda would do well to talk to GMB and nip this dispute in the bud before it snowballs and starts affecting a much larger number of stores.” 

This development follows a similar situation at the Asda Wisbech store, Cambridgeshire, in late January 2024, where more than 150 members sought a vote to address comparable problems, including prolonged equal pay claims and neglected health and safety issues.  

The consultative ballot, which began on 26 January 2024, will close on 9 February.