A plumber from Burnley, who helps those in poverty, has threatened to boycott Asda, which has been accused of threatening to “fire and rehire” thousands of workers in a dispute over pay.

James Anderson, founder of Depher CIC which provides free or heavily subsidised emergency plumbing and heating services to vulnerable, older and disabled people, said he will no longer use the supermarket in his charity work if changes are not made.

Asda is owned by Blackburn's billionaire Issa brothers, the fifth richest people in the North West, with a wealth of more than £5 billion.

The GMB union said there were plans to tell staff at 39 Asda stores in southern England they will lose a 60p-per-hour “location supplement” and have their night supplement reduced.

These staff have been paid the extra money for years, to make up for the higher cost of living near London.

Those who do not agree will have the new contract imposed on them and could be dismissed if they refuse to sign, claimed the union, describing it as a “fire and rehire” threat.

Asda said the payment is an "anomaly" and the consultation on plans to remove it are ongoing.

The union said there were plans to implement the change in November.

National officer at the union Nadine Houghton said: “Cutting the pay of 7,000 low-paid retail workers during a cost-of-living crisis is inexcusable.”

 

 

James said he has been using Asda to buy food shops for the poor and vulnerable in Burnley.

In December, a woman was set to spend Christmas Day alone, with eggs on toast for Christmas dinner, until James ordered a £191 food shop from Asda for her.

He said the charity cannot continue to work with a company “that creates so much pain.”

He said: “We use Asda because of the ease of ordering nationwide to many thousands of homes.

“The staff work hard and they have families and children that they support.

“If they are put into further poverty, through a reduction in pay or dismissal, then unfortunately, we cannot continue to work with a company that creates so much pain.”

An Asda spokesperson said: “We are holding a collective consultation in a small number of stores outside the M25, where colleagues are currently paid a legacy location supplement of 60p per hour on top of their existing rate of £11.00 per hour.

“This supplement is out of line with the wider retail market and has created an anomaly where some Asda colleagues in stores that are close together are paid different rates.

“As part of this consultation, we are discussing a compensatory payment for colleagues in return for the removal of this location supplement, if the proposal goes ahead.

"These discussions are ongoing and no final decision has been taken.”

Asda has been approached for further comment about James' decision to boycott the supermarket.