URTU Asda victory
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• The United Road Transport Union (URTU) has won a single-union deal with Asda distributor Northern Food Transport of Barnsley. This goes against the supermarket giant's preference for greenfield deals with the General Municipal and Boilermakers Union (GMB).
URTU will represent more than 100 drivers, warehouse workers and ancillary staff and claims it won NFT's acceptance on its new site because it is a "professional transport union" which has already established links with the company at its Dronfield, Sheffield site.
But a report in the Daily Mirror this week claims that Asda's distributors are forced to grant recognition rights to the GMB even if they normally recognise the Transport and General Workers Union elsewhere.
"Asda has a single union agreement with the GMB. However, in no way are employees in distribution centres forced to become GMB members," says the company. "Before potential employees accept employment at distribution centres they are advised that the contractor has a sole recognition agreement with the GMB but does not operate a closed shop. Staff are not prevented from joining a different union."
The TGWU is worried that distributors are accepting GMB recognition to secure the Asda business and the union believes there may be restraint of trade involved. "There has been talk of taking Asda to court, but no active writ has been served", says the TGWU, "however, we are considering what to do."
Companies named in the Daily Mirror article include Tibbett and Britton which says the allegations are not "accurate",and Heron Freight of Carlisle which refuses to comment. Others include Christian Salveson at Dartford and Glass Glover at Wigan.
The Employment Act of 1982 says: "Any term or condition of a contract for the supply of goods or services is void in so far as it purports to require any party to the contract to recognise one or more trade unions."
Frank Griffin, general secretary of the URTU, is pleased at winning recognition for his union on an Asda greenfield site. "It was the result of a lot of hard work", he says.