Results of GMB ballot due next week
Talks to resolve a dispute between the GMB union and supermarket giant Asda about collective bargaining rights for distribution centre workers have broken down.

Asda chief executive Andy Bond met shop stewards at the GMB annual congress in Blackpool yesterday in an attempt to avert industrial action, but both sides confirmed they had failed to make any progress

GMB national officer Jude Brimble said: 'There was a full and frank exchange of the positions of both sides at the meeting. Nothing new was put on the table by the company. A wide gulf separates the parties and no progress was made today to bridge this gap. Both sides will now await the outcome of the strike ballot.'

The result of a strike ballot of almost 4,500 union members is expected next Wednesday (June 21).

The two have been locked in the dispute over collective bargaining rights at 20 Asda depots since February and an earlier round of talks between Asda and the union collapsed last month. Workers have union recognition and collective bargaining rights at nine out of 20 Asda depots.

An Asda spokesman said: 'Despite our best efforts, it seems the GMB are more interested in shouting at us rather than talking to us at the moment. We clarified that voting for industrial action would be pointless as we've already agreed to set up a National Joint Council with the GMB and proposed a process that could lead to collective bargaining at all our depots - but only if our colleagues wanted it.'

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