Supermarket chain Asda and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) have signed a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the recognition of convenience store and restaurant staff. 

As part of the CBA, Usdaw will represent hourly-paid employees in the convenience stores and Leon restaurants acquired by Asda from EG Group.  

The agreement encompasses 356 convenience stores and 77 Leon restaurant sites in the UK, which Asda took over in October 2023. 

Asda has a history of collaborations with Usdaw, having previously partnered with the union for the representation of colleagues in 119 convenience stores acquired from the Co-op chain in 2022.  

This new agreement extends Usdaw's representation to include the additional sites of EG, allowing the union to negotiate on pay, hours, and holidays for the hourly-paid staff annually. 

Asda chief people & corporate affairs officer Hayley Tatum said: "We respect the important role trade unions play in representing our valued colleagues.  

“As Usdaw already represents the 2,300 colleagues in the convenience stores we acquired from the Co-op Group, it is a natural progression to recognise them as our partner for the sites we have acquired from EG Group. We look forward to working collaboratively with them to deliver positive outcomes for colleagues in this important and growing area of our business.” 

The existing union agreements that Asda has with Usdaw in Northern Ireland and with GMB in depots and retail stores will continue without change. 

Usdaw national officer Jayne Allport said: “It is a positive step forward for Usdaw members within the EG Group of stores and Leon restaurants who will now benefit from full representation and collective bargaining under this new agreement.”