Asda and Usdaw sign collective bargaining agreement

Asda and Usdaw have signed a collective bargaining agreement that will see the union represent hourly-paid employees in the convenience stores and Leon restaurants that Asda acquired from EG Group.

Following the agreement, Usdaw will negotiate on pay, hours and holidays annually for those employed in 356 convenience stores and 77 Leon restaurant sites across the UK.

Asda said it has chosen to partner with Usdaw due to its “track record of representing workers in convenience retail”. 

The union already represents workers in the 119 convenience stores Asda acquired from the Co-op in 2022, as part of an existing recognition agreement.

Hayley Tatum, Asda’s Chief People and Corporate Affairs officer, 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.”

Jayne Allport, Usdaw National Officer, added: “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Asda. 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. 

“This is in addition to the existing arrangements we already have in place with our membership within the ex-Co-op petrol filling stations and Asda Northern Ireland.”

Asda’s existing union agreements with Usdaw in Northern Ireland and the GMB in depots and retail stores remain unchanged, it said.