Union bosses are urging employees at a Dundee Asda not to volunteer for a trial of reduced working hours for nightshift staff.
The supermarket giant is launching an eight-week trial of a five-hour twilight shift instead of the normal eight-hour nightshift at the Milton of Craigie branch.
Bosses say this will allow shelves to be stocked at better times and insist wages will not change during the trial.
But union members fear this could lead to a permanent change and lost pay as a result of the reduced hours.
It is understood the move will only affect grocery night shift workers who currently work from 10pm until 6am.
During the trial, the shift will start at 8pm and end at 1am.
One Asda worker said she is worried about what lies ahead following the trial.
How does Asda expect colleagues to survive?”
She said: “They have said they will honour wages during the trial but what happens long-term?
“If these new working hours become permanent, those currently working five days a week would essentially receive half their current pay.
“How does Asda expect colleagues to survive?”
‘Back-door attempt to get more for less’
GMB Scotland organiser Bob Deavy said the union has urged members not to volunteer for the trial.
He said: “We have recommended to our members they do not volunteer for this trial, which is basically a back-door attempt by the employer to get more for less from already hard-pressed staff.
“We have challenged Asda management about the prospect of financial loss and work-life balance detriment from these shift proposals.
“We’ve asked them to ensure that members will not be coerced or threatened by local managers if they refuse to participate.”
Benefit of customers
A spokesman for Asda said the upcoming changes are for the benefit of replenishing stock for customers.
He added: “We will shortly begin a trial in our Dundee store which will temporarily see a change to some colleague shift patterns.
“The trial will assess whether shifting these times creates better availability of products for in-store and online customers, so shelves can be stocked up at the right time of the day.
“Colleague pay will not be affected during this trial.”
