SUPERMARKET workers have voiced their "extreme anxiety" about the merger of Sainsbury's and Asda.
The Sunday Herald spoke to staff at Asda's 'superstore' in Glasgow Govan. Nearly 500 workers are employed at the site.
Both Asda and Sainsbury’s have said they have no plans to close any stores. However, unions have warned there could be consequences for jobs.
The GMB union has said the deal poses a threat to over 1000 workers at two major Asda distribution sites at Falkirk and Grangemouth.
Last night, it said a similar number could be at risk at stores across Scotland.
Staff at Asda's Glasgow Govan store said they had been left in the dark about potential consequences.There was also anger about the way workers were informed of the merger.
Workers at Glasgow Govan spoke on condition of anonymity. One female employee said: "People feel angry about the way we were told about this. It appeared to be a leak to a TV news station. I've worked for Asda for a long time and to be told about things in that way is awful."
Another worker said staff had been given no reassurances about their jobs.
He said: "People working here are afraid to plan anything now, whether it's buying a holiday or a car. There's also the stress and extreme anxiety that it's causing for us all. They should make clear to staff what any changes will mean. It's really confusing as there have been no reassurances given. People feel let down as they have devoted a lot of years of their lives to Asda."
Another staff member said there were concerns that working conditions would deteriorate after the merger. She said: "There are fears that there will be changes to the conditions and that they will make people work every weekend. The staff are Asda's biggest asset, but we're worried that we're getting thrown away like trash."
GMB Organiser Bob Deavy said a "couple of thousand" jobs were at risk across Asda's Scottish stores and distribution sites. He added: "Asda and Sainsbury's combined employ well over 20,000 people across Scotland. They are massive employers and outside of the cities in particular their stores are often the only pillars of prosperity in the local community.
"But the truth is that two does not go into one. If we leave this unchallenged then the senior executive may well be 'in the money' but we will be looking at a new era of mass unemployment across Scottish working class communities."
In response, an Asda spokeswoman said: "Asda and Sainsbury’s will continue to operate as two separate retailers, and this proposed merger offers a great deal for customers."
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