Nigel Scully, Usdaw Divisional Officer says: “Usdaw is frustrated and disappointed that the company continues not to be prepared to discuss the key issues that we do not agree on and have been unable to come up with an acceptable offer regarding the attendance scheme on site.
 
“Individuals do get ill and/or injured and need to be in a position where they can recover without having to worry whether they will be getting paid. The company’s changes mean that our members, including many who have given significant years service, could quickly end up without any sick pay, meaning that financial worries are likely to be added to any other issues they are going through.
 
“This industrial action is a last resort following many meetings where we have tried to work with the company to find an agreement. We continue to call on the company to enter serious negotiations and ensure that our members have adequate sick pay provisions in line with other staff across the Sainsbury’s estate including our retail members.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 410,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion