Warning of revolt against staff tagging

A leading trade union warns today of a revolt against new technology which "dehumanises" employees by electronically tagging them as they work.

An increasing number of workers in retail distribution centres, which supply goods to supermarkets, are having to wear tags, usually on their wrists, to help speed up orders, according to the GMB. The tags are linked to local area radio networks and satellite tracking devices, which allow information to be sent directly to warehouse staff.

The union complained that the tags are also being used to monitor breaks and even trips to the lavatory, and are turning workplaces into "battery farms".

GMB national officer Paul Campbell said up to 10,000 workers in the UK were now affected by tagging, but many were not prepared to co-operate and were resigning, some within hours of being told to wear tags.

Paul Kenny, the union's acting general secretary, said: "The GMB is no Luddite organisation, but we will not stand idly by to see our members reduced to robots."