Union unrest at retail giants

AS if they do not have enough problems, Sainsbury and Marks & Spencer are entangled in union disputes over working practices.

Logistics firm Gist, which transports M&S's fresh produce, is under fire for trying to tweak contracts and pay new staff less than existing workers.

Sainsbury is in a dispute with its depot workers over plans to make staff work more weekends and proposals to change severance contracts. Both Marks and Sainsbury want to improve their supply and distribution networks. But staff feel they are being railroaded into changes.

The Transport and General Workers' Union is in consultation with Gist and Sainsbury. The union's general secretary has given authorisation for a strike ballot for Gist workers if a deal cannot be reached. It has a meeting with Gist next week.

But Gist said the meeting is merely to discuss the Working Time Directive, adding that 'there are no major issues as far as we are concerned'.

Sainsbury union members have threatened to hold a strike ballot. One employee said: 'The management are holding a gun to our head.' The supermarket said it is trying to bring its 'working practices in line with those of other UK supermarkets' to improve service.